Tasars win Prestigous Perth “3 of a Kind” Dinghy Race
This from the www.westernsail.com …
David defeats Goliath – Tasars Take out Three of Kind 2009
Well it’s not often that a humble Tasar sailor in WA can lay claim to any bragging rights, but as the old adage states “every dog has its day in the sun” and it certainly was the tasar class’s “day in the sun” yesterday at MBSC in the annual “3 of a kind” regatta.
Racing got underway in about ½ a knot of breeze, and remained fickle for the entire afternoon on the river, not allowing the trapeze boats to take advantage of their superior leverage (see attached wind chart). This resulted in a reduced performance differential between the high performance boats, and others, seeing the usual suspects being outperformed by several dark horses…
To read more go to www.westernsail.com …
Well I never, but we must remember that Team Forbes also took out the 2008 Port Walcott YC Dinghy Champion. Guess the Swan River folk are just catching up on this news.
America’s Cup – Filler Up
Two Port Hedland boats travelled to Exmouth on the WA Labour Day long weekend to contest the America’s Cup. The event was given a rebirth by the good folk at Exmouth Yacht Club after a lay off of almost twelve years. The event was given a life again through the hard work of Commodore Suzie Lalor and Rear Commodore – Sail James Chapman and their small and effective team of volunteers. The five race series gave an equal mix of onshore fun and good racing on the water.
Commodore John Bartlem led the charge from PHYC, representing TeamFrance, with the 24 foot Corsair trailerable triarmaran - ’Comfortably Numb’. Brett McInerney also competed representing the dinghy interests with the Australian Lightweight Sharpie -’Filler Up’, for the Swiss team.
Some of the fleet contesting the 2009 America’s Cup on the Exmouth Gulf.
The fleet of triarmarans, catarmarans and dinghies of all shapes and sizes were able to compete for the America’s Cup on a Yardstick to compare boat against boat. A further adjustment through a crew performance handicap was applied to give an overall result.
Brett McInerney helmed Filler UP with his crew of Exmouth sailors Brett ‘Happy’ Stevens and Ken ‘Blues Harp’ Hart. Filler Up showed the way with 3 wins and 2 second places. With lady luck not always on Filler Up’s side, the trio were denied a five race clean sweep. The two other heat winners were Exmouth’s Nacra 5.2 – James Chapman (2nd Overall) and Dampier’s HHBSC triarmaran. The strong Windrush fleet at Exmouth YC proved to give results too, with Platypuss skippered by Jan Van Der Schaar placing equal third with the Dampier triarmaran. Check the results at EYCs website Racing page http://www.exmouthyachtclub.org/Racing/Racing.html
The competitors enjoyed some great hospitality from the members of the EYC, with great meals, a Saturday night band and the America’s Cup presentation on Sunday evening. EYCs Rear Commodore – Sail, James Chapman made a plea to all NorWest WA sailing clubs to ensure that newcomers are introduced to the great sport of sailing.
PHYC Commodore John Bartlem and Vice Commodore Dave Sutcliffe presented a PHYC club burgee to Commodore Suzie Lalor in appreciation of their efforts. The presentation was made with a challenge to the EYC members to come to Port Hedland YCs August Regatta, to reclaim the Team France flag that has been ‘borrowed’ by the crew of ‘Comfortably Numb’.
The proceedings closed with McInerney ringing the EYC bell, which had to be dug out of the drawers, for the betterment of the thirsty sailors.
The Exmouth Yacht Club’s America’s Cup winners circle.
PORT HEDLAND YACHT CLUB 2008 REGATTA
The PHYC Regatta for 2008 certainly provided plenty of varying sailing conditions for the sailors. A time correction yardstick was applied to the three divisions of yachts, normalizing sailing performance of the crews of dissimilar yachts.
The off-the-beach boats enjoyed sailing from the yacht club basin to the race course in the outer Harbour. Thanks to the efforts of BHP Billiton and Downer EDI Works, who have provided the deepening of the basin entrance with the recent civil works on the Spoil bank.
The Regatta was sailed with a three race format. Nine boats lined up on the start line for Saturday’s racing in a light East Nor-Easterly. After a weather forecast that predicted the sheets blowing off the clothesline, the majority of the fleet tried to finish the race battling the two knot tide in NO wind.
Thanks to the crews of the Volunteer Marine Rescue and the Start Boat for their efforts in assisting with getting the fleet safely back to shore. The winners were home and enjoying the sunset from the clubhouse while some of the unfortunate sailors were still coming home while the spectacular sunset slipped away.
Sunday’s weather was more of what the fleet had expected with a rather cool East Sou-East for the morning race up into the Port Hedland Inner Harbour and then a long zig zag back out to the top of the Spoilbank. The weather did keep on challenging the sailors on the thirteen boat fleet, as the offshore winds abated and the afternoon sea breeze filled from the North, Nor-East. The sailors returned to shore for a lunch break and then made their way back to the race course for the third and final Sunday afternoon race. The sea breeze filled in at 15 knots and provided for some good racing.
The regatta results for the Division A Monohulls were 1st – Venomous, Dave Gosper, 2nd – Ribasher, Phil Jones, 3rd – Gypsy, Joan Foley. The Division B Catarmarans, 1st - Allegro, John Bartlem, 2nd – Evita, Chris Muller HHBSC, 3rd – Warrawin, Barry Sisson. The Division C Dinghies, 1st – Filler Up, Brett McInerney, 2nd – Dynamic, Mike Forbes, 3rd- Peter Forbes HHBSC.
The Sunday evening presentation concluded the regatta and would not be possible without the support from North West Liquor Supplies, Harvey Norman, Progressive Supplies, Custom Construction, Pilbara Boats N Bikes, Gordon Clement and Boating Hardware Pro Sail.
The North West sailors now have the 2009 Regatta firmly in their sites with the Regatta to be sailed from the new clubhouse. Sailing will continue on Saturday 6th September with Sunday 7th hosting the Corsair dinghy Challenge.
Race 3 - 25 May 2008
Guys and Girls – where are you? Some of the most fantastic water in WA to go for a yacht and we mustered just over a dozen sailors.
Venomous lined up for a rematch against Allegro in a light to moderate N-N/W. Venomous proving too good yet again and wrestling the top spot from the Windrush.
Trevor got the Hawk Cat wet. Pity to see gravity took its toll on the jib but Trev didn’t let that dampen his fun on the water.
Filler UP returned with Belinda graduating from the Corsair to the trapeze wire of the Sharpie and Spinnaker handling to boot. We won’t talk too much about that ‘Boom’ Belinda ! But you said the water was warm.
I hope other sailors from the learn to sail course can front up at the club to try out on the Sharpie too.
Well what can we say but ’simply impressive’. Alan, Gary and Ray got the Corsairs on the water on their own accord. The guys sailed short handed ( 1 – up ) with jib and main. While they didn’t manage to get onto the race track this week, we will hope for a line up from the trio in Race 4.
Learn to Sail Course No.1 Concludes - 24 May 2008
Well we would have to say that the first course for 2008 was a great success. With 9 Junior and 4 Senior sailors signing up for Course No.1. The sailors have undertaken 18 hours or more of Theory and On the water Practice sessions. Some of the sailors were members of the T.S. Pilbara Navy Cadets.
Each sailor upon completion will gain certification for the ‘Basic Skills’ skillset under the Yachting Australia backed Get into Small Boat Sailing. This course paves the way for sailors to join in on racing activities. The skills gained were very evident with all of the students showing the ability to tack out towards the open sea from the safety of the Yacht Club basin, in very difficult conditions.
The sailors enjoyed the courses and take pride in knowing that they can now rig a boat and launch with safety and confidence. Sail any direction and control the boat speed. All the while learning the importance of communication and teamwork. And of course gaining new friendships.
An open invitation is extended to all Learn to Sail participants and their guests to come to the Sunday race day to improve on their ‘Basic Skills’. See you soon. Check the Sailing Programme link for future dates.
Be sure to check out the GALLERY weblink for photos of the new sailors in action.
Race 2 - 11 May 2008
Heat 2 witnessed Allegro and Venomous battle out line honours in a scene reminiscent of that dodgy America’s Cup race between a boat with one hull and another with two…
The Victor was Venomous.
Gypsy graced the waters of Port Hedland and also the shipping channel. Enough said hey Ali…
The guys from the Learn to Sail course showed there new found skills on board the Corsairs. Ray, Gary and Alan honed there skills with some short windward and return legs sailing single handed under mainsail.
Belinda sailed on the Corsair with Brett and kept the three single handed sailors honest.
The Teddy Bears picnic proved for some dry land navigation woes in the packed car park. Oh to have this many people adorn the yacht club for a yacht race… one day it will happen.
Sailing Gloves available
The club is making the Ronstan sailing Glove available for purchase. Visit the weblink http://www.ronstan.com.au/marine/product.asp?ProdNo=RF4850 for more information. The cost of the gloves will be $45. Please contact Brett on 0417987815 if you would like to inspect the gloves. The sizes available are Small, Medium, Large, X-Large and XX-Large.
Yachting Australia Training Series Books
The club has arranged for the Yachting Australia books
Start Sailing Right
Introductory Keelboat
Coastal Navigation with CD and
Small Boat Sailing Log Books for direct purchase.
See http://www.yachting.org.au/?Page=26722 for more information.
These books are an excellent source of knowledge for both the new and seasoned sailor. Contatct Brett on 0417 987 815.
Race 1 – 27 April 2008
After a great turn out on the Opening Day – Try Sailing on the 20th April, numbers were well down for the ANZAC DAY long weekend. We hope your ANZAC commemorations went well.
We saw two off the beach Cats and the Commodore’s Trailerable Cat “Allegro” sail with the two Corsairs and the Sharpie.
Dave Sutcliffe’s Corsair put up a good fight to hold off the attack from Allegro, who was too strong under spinnaker and took the lead.
Good too see Gary Anhal return from Try Sailing Day and the Learn to Sail course to the Sharpie, Filler UP. Filler UP took on the other crew’s with a self imposed handicap start but couldn’t catch Dave’s Corsair or Allegro. Well done Commodore John and crew, Lorraine and Ross.
1 Allegro, 2 Corsair – Sutcliffe, 3 Filler UP.
Learn to Sail
The Learn to Sail courses launched on Saturday 26th March was off to a great start with a solid turn out. Three senior members and five juniors members took part in the first of three sessions. The majority of the juniors coming from the T.S. Pilbara Naval Cadets.
The new yachtsman learned the correct way to rig a boat, picking up on the sailing ‘lingo’ along the way. By the end of the day the guys and girls where sailing by themselves and returning to shore in near ideal conditions.
Thanks to John Bartlem, Dave Sutcliffe and Ilse Gosper for their assistance.
You can be sure that everyone will be looking forward to getting on the water on Saturday May 10th to build on their new skills. Anyone who wants to know more can read the ‘Learn to sail’ website.
