Winter Race 7 (Harvey 6).  Wind (YES) - 5 to 20 kts SW – W. Blue Course 40, White 32, Red 32A.  Excellent conditions albeit a tricky run-out tide. Full series results are on the GFS web site.

A big thank you to the ‘twilight girls’ for the start and finish duties during the winter series.

Blue Division Etchells were thin on the ground with only three facing the start.  Rumour has it that the attraction of boats with toilets, cooking and sleeping facilities at the Sydney Boat Show was too hard to resist. Despite this the Etchells had a good race.  Chloe (the boat) left the scene early, perhaps to get to the boat show late leaving WGARA and Joka to fight out the race and indeed the series.  WGARA took  the triple - water race, handicap race and series (both water and computer).  Joka was next in the series in both scratch and handicap followed by Serendipity.

White Division had the largest group on the day with Out of Africa, also having the largest (in number) crew, Beware of the Dog, Soundtrack, CavSav and Kirralaa happy with their boats and therefore not interested in the boat show.  Soundtrack revelled in the light conditions and gained a narrow lead by Cockatoo which they extended on the way to Snapper Island.  Beware of the Dog were not far behind with CavSav, Kirralaa, Shemozzle and O of A close together. Up to and around Goat Island saw Soundtrack still ahead but Beware of the Dog steadily closing the gap.  By the finish Soundtrack were ahead by a minute and with BOTD had established a fair gap on the rest of the fleet.  CavSav, as always, sailed consistently and were back next followed by Out of Africa, Shemozzle and Kirralaa.  Handicap results were Soundtrack, BOTD and CS. Series results went to Out of Africa then Beware of the Dog with Cav Sav and Shemozzle equal third.

In the Premier Division the Red boats were boosted by the inclusion of Lunasea.  At some point in the race each boat in the fleet led the race and right from the start Lunasea, Zig Zag and Flair had a close battle for the lead up to Spectacle Island. The distance between each boat changed continually with neither able to make a substantial break on the others.  The final leg took the fleet around Greenwich Point on the way to the finish and with the swift tidal surge and freshened Westerly wind this proved tricky and resulted in Flair taking about 57 tacks to clear Greenwich Sailing Club, the moorings (at least twice) and Greenwich Wharf.  Flair made it back just ahead of Lunasea with the fast finishing Zig Zag not far away.  Handicap result went to Lunasea.  Series placings were Zig Zag, Flair and Waterhound.

Thanks to the participants in the 2010 Winter Series each division had close results.

Please remember Safety Adits for Saturday and Down Harbour Series are on August 21 (forget the election). 

Race 1 of the 2010 – 2011 Saturday Spring Series is August 28 and Kirralaa is on duty.

Cheers

 

pH