Monday, November 26, 2007
Sunday 9th December
Super Series goes to Braithwaite Team
There was plenty of heavy traffic at the top mark with some of seasons closest racing during Sundays three race super series. As the storm clouds approached the gusting seas breeze reached close to 20 knots the racing became intense and the margins for error minimal. The races were led by the two Taipan crews of Scott Machon/ Bryce Haffner and Mark/ Sophia Braithwaite. These two were relentlessly pursued by the A Class of Fabrice Boone. The A Class was most certainly at its design limit with the gusting winds and choppy lake conditions putting a huge stress in the super light weight boat's carbon mast. The Hobie 16 and NACRA boats maintained a three race battle to the end with the finishing results alternating throughout the series.
It was the Braithwaite Team on AUS283 who were narrow winners over the fast finishing Machon/Haffner Team of AUS163. The Braithwaite team have shown great form since the State titles and now prepare for the National Titles in QLD during the New Year.
There was plenty of heavy traffic at the top mark with some of seasons closest racing during Sundays three race super series. As the storm clouds approached the gusting seas breeze reached close to 20 knots the racing became intense and the margins for error minimal. The races were led by the two Taipan crews of Scott Machon/ Bryce Haffner and Mark/ Sophia Braithwaite. These two were relentlessly pursued by the A Class of Fabrice Boone. The A Class was most certainly at its design limit with the gusting winds and choppy lake conditions putting a huge stress in the super light weight boat's carbon mast. The Hobie 16 and NACRA boats maintained a three race battle to the end with the finishing results alternating throughout the series.
It was the Braithwaite Team on AUS283 who were narrow winners over the fast finishing Machon/Haffner Team of AUS163. The Braithwaite team have shown great form since the State titles and now prepare for the National Titles in QLD during the New Year.
Sunday 25th November
Weather E/NE at a perfect 12-15knots.
Three races for the day.
Triangle course (2).
It was a day for the solo sailors. Two A-Class cats a cat rigged Taipan and a Nacra.
The sole crew was Ray and Ross on the Hobie 16.
A top day with three races. Thanks to John, Caleb and Ethan for doing boat duties for the day.
Results will follow
Cheers Scott
Three races for the day.
Triangle course (2).
It was a day for the solo sailors. Two A-Class cats a cat rigged Taipan and a Nacra.
The sole crew was Ray and Ross on the Hobie 16.
A top day with three races. Thanks to John, Caleb and Ethan for doing boat duties for the day.
Results will follow
Cheers Scott
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
South West Rocks Racing
The weather had been unkind to us all week. The rain had continued for almost a week. Giving us occasional glimpses of blue skies then quickly returning to torrential rain.
There seemed little logic in going to South West Rocks for the weekend and camping in a caravan. The annual North Coast Cat Challenge at the Rocks seemed as though it would be a washout. But we persevered and ominously packed the cards and games along with the optimistic box of sailing gear and a boat in tow.
Arriving at the gaol the rain still taunted us, but only occasionally. By Saturday morning the weather was improving and the tables were dry. The weather began to clear and by lunchtime the sun was out.
Briefing over we hit the water and that was the easy part. The remnants of the week long weather had provided a large and long swell which swung around the breakwall and into the bay. Leaving the shore was easy, then navigating the swell and crashing waves without sticking the rudders into the sand beneath the hulls was tricky. Out in the bay the afternoon turned nasty with a squall from the south east racing across the fleet. 20 knots plus with the swells spray reaching backwards was making the day quite uncomfortable. We decided to head to shore but promptly ran out of wind. Squall over – head to start.
The course was the traditional SWR triangle and windward return then triangle. The top mark was in close to the shore and the bottom mark well down towards the bay buoys. This left the reaching mark somewhere outside the breakers. As the tide dropped the reach became a boat breaking reach through the breaking swell. Occasionally the boats would top the crest of the wave and momentarily be in full flight out of the water. The returning crunch and slap as the hulls hit the water was a grimacing sensation.
Four races back to back in a small fleet of 15 boats was well contested. The results for Bryce and Scott 2nd, 1st, 1st, 1st from four races.
Sunday greeted us with clear skies and again a south easterly. This time the breeze was softer and the swell had certainly diminished over the evening.
Sunday saw the arrival of Mark and Sophia Braithwaite who were already rigging on the beach as the rest of us arrived from our leisurely breakfasts.
Racing began shortly after 10.30 and the breeze was flicking around the course. Large holes appeared in the middle of the course as the wind pulled either side around the gaol. East to north east and then south east inside the bay.
Mark and Sophia certainly led away and Mark was quick across the water pointing as high as the paper tigers. Closely followed by Garry Tuck on his cat rigged Taipan.
Three races were sailed with Mark and Sophia gaining a clean sweep with three 1st places out of three races. Bryce and Scott managing to recover from a third and post two second place finished behind Mark.
Racing will again be at South West Rocks on the 2nd weekend in March for the Darren Lowder Memorial regatta.
There seemed little logic in going to South West Rocks for the weekend and camping in a caravan. The annual North Coast Cat Challenge at the Rocks seemed as though it would be a washout. But we persevered and ominously packed the cards and games along with the optimistic box of sailing gear and a boat in tow.
Arriving at the gaol the rain still taunted us, but only occasionally. By Saturday morning the weather was improving and the tables were dry. The weather began to clear and by lunchtime the sun was out.
Briefing over we hit the water and that was the easy part. The remnants of the week long weather had provided a large and long swell which swung around the breakwall and into the bay. Leaving the shore was easy, then navigating the swell and crashing waves without sticking the rudders into the sand beneath the hulls was tricky. Out in the bay the afternoon turned nasty with a squall from the south east racing across the fleet. 20 knots plus with the swells spray reaching backwards was making the day quite uncomfortable. We decided to head to shore but promptly ran out of wind. Squall over – head to start.
The course was the traditional SWR triangle and windward return then triangle. The top mark was in close to the shore and the bottom mark well down towards the bay buoys. This left the reaching mark somewhere outside the breakers. As the tide dropped the reach became a boat breaking reach through the breaking swell. Occasionally the boats would top the crest of the wave and momentarily be in full flight out of the water. The returning crunch and slap as the hulls hit the water was a grimacing sensation.
Four races back to back in a small fleet of 15 boats was well contested. The results for Bryce and Scott 2nd, 1st, 1st, 1st from four races.
Sunday greeted us with clear skies and again a south easterly. This time the breeze was softer and the swell had certainly diminished over the evening.
Sunday saw the arrival of Mark and Sophia Braithwaite who were already rigging on the beach as the rest of us arrived from our leisurely breakfasts.
Racing began shortly after 10.30 and the breeze was flicking around the course. Large holes appeared in the middle of the course as the wind pulled either side around the gaol. East to north east and then south east inside the bay.
Mark and Sophia certainly led away and Mark was quick across the water pointing as high as the paper tigers. Closely followed by Garry Tuck on his cat rigged Taipan.
Three races were sailed with Mark and Sophia gaining a clean sweep with three 1st places out of three races. Bryce and Scott managing to recover from a third and post two second place finished behind Mark.
Racing will again be at South West Rocks on the 2nd weekend in March for the Darren Lowder Memorial regatta.
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