The 2016 Women's State Keelboat Championships
Sailing out of Royal Perth Yacht club this year, it promises to be a great day on the water. The teams will comprise some of the best of the ladies on the water and it's likely that some of the battles that were in place last year will pick up again. But we don't want the huge blow that came through at the end of the racing and saw a spinnaker tear itself to shreds as the boat headed for the finishing line. It was worth it though, the girls said afterwards. "We've never been so quick in our lives."
The day began with a soft breeze out of the WSW and the seven teams were out on the water by 0900 hrs after their morning feast of coffee and muffins. Just what was needed to top up the sugar levels for the morning. I was privileged to be on the maintenance boat with Jay Halligan and Andy Fethers with a trackside view of the racing. "Skid" Robins jumped on board to get out onto the water and with the three of them, the resultant commentary was unbelievable. Unfortunately what happens on the boat stays on the boat, but it was great fun listening to three blokes who knew what was going on.
"Playing for Sheep stations"
Understandably, the first race was a pussy foot affair as the girls tiptoed over the start line with no one game to push the edge too hard to begin with. It was also a matter of timing the gusts as they came down the sides of Matilda bay with the open side being favoured more and more as time progressed. But there were good gains to be made on the other side as the breeze held a strong westerly influence and the lift off the land could work for you if you found the sweet spot. What ever happened to gentle lady like behavior? By the end of the race the protests were whizzing around and the on water jurists were busy sorting out the queries. FSC was DSQ'd at the end of the protest period.
A few clouds began to gather above our heads, but the rain was holding off and we had a number of minor maintenance issues to deal with while the protests were being heard. Within 20 minutes the boats were starting to gather at the start line again and away they went with a much tighter start line and everyone got away cleanly. No problems, but the rounding at the top mark was spectacular to watch as the crack teams had the spinnakers set well before the separator mark and just hauled in the boats in front.
We offloaded Skid at this time and a few sails and had a bit more room on the boat. Then the racing began to get serious as both Jen Sims and Carolyne Bush were disqualified in the third race upsetting the apple cart and opening up the opportunities for the other teams namely RFBYC, East Fremantle YC and Hillarys YC. Sandy Anderson of Freshie took a rather wet win as the showers poured down on the course and again April took the advantage of the disqualifications to take another second with Kate Olsen of East Fremantle pulling a third.
By this time the breeze was starting to lift and in a good 14 to 18 knots the girls were given a three lapper that really pushed the teams and the names of the winners were starting to appear on the boards as SoPYC took the first two spots cleanly, followed by East Freo third again. Carolyne on the Fremantle boat was having major problems and retired up river a little while Alison Stock ( Selkie ) volunteered to go up the mast to do a quick repair.
With the fifth race in hand, the starters had another three lapper in hand and by now the ladies had the wind cycles sorted out and the possibility of a SoPYC double was on offer. Unfortunately a DSQ took Jen Sims of SoPYC out and her over the line 5th would have given her a hard won overall third spot, but she gracefully accepted a fourth on count back to Sandy Anderson of Royal Freshwater Bay YC while Royal Perth's Jen Richardson took the over all second with a third spot on the last race.
Congratulations to SoPYC's April Jorgensen and her crew. With the wins spread amongst the fleet, consistency was the name of the game and April had a strong knowledge base which with to work from on the boat. But they still didn't know that they'd won the series until they had parked up and others let them know. This gives the SoPYC
teams two wins in two years.
Many thanks to Swan River Sailing and Carolyne Bush in particular for getting me onto the water and of course to Andy Fethers and Jay for the driving. And of course the lady sailors - without whom I wouldn't have such images.
Till next year then......
The day began with a soft breeze out of the WSW and the seven teams were out on the water by 0900 hrs after their morning feast of coffee and muffins. Just what was needed to top up the sugar levels for the morning. I was privileged to be on the maintenance boat with Jay Halligan and Andy Fethers with a trackside view of the racing. "Skid" Robins jumped on board to get out onto the water and with the three of them, the resultant commentary was unbelievable. Unfortunately what happens on the boat stays on the boat, but it was great fun listening to three blokes who knew what was going on.
"Playing for Sheep stations"
Understandably, the first race was a pussy foot affair as the girls tiptoed over the start line with no one game to push the edge too hard to begin with. It was also a matter of timing the gusts as they came down the sides of Matilda bay with the open side being favoured more and more as time progressed. But there were good gains to be made on the other side as the breeze held a strong westerly influence and the lift off the land could work for you if you found the sweet spot. What ever happened to gentle lady like behavior? By the end of the race the protests were whizzing around and the on water jurists were busy sorting out the queries. FSC was DSQ'd at the end of the protest period.
A few clouds began to gather above our heads, but the rain was holding off and we had a number of minor maintenance issues to deal with while the protests were being heard. Within 20 minutes the boats were starting to gather at the start line again and away they went with a much tighter start line and everyone got away cleanly. No problems, but the rounding at the top mark was spectacular to watch as the crack teams had the spinnakers set well before the separator mark and just hauled in the boats in front.
We offloaded Skid at this time and a few sails and had a bit more room on the boat. Then the racing began to get serious as both Jen Sims and Carolyne Bush were disqualified in the third race upsetting the apple cart and opening up the opportunities for the other teams namely RFBYC, East Fremantle YC and Hillarys YC. Sandy Anderson of Freshie took a rather wet win as the showers poured down on the course and again April took the advantage of the disqualifications to take another second with Kate Olsen of East Fremantle pulling a third.
By this time the breeze was starting to lift and in a good 14 to 18 knots the girls were given a three lapper that really pushed the teams and the names of the winners were starting to appear on the boards as SoPYC took the first two spots cleanly, followed by East Freo third again. Carolyne on the Fremantle boat was having major problems and retired up river a little while Alison Stock ( Selkie ) volunteered to go up the mast to do a quick repair.
With the fifth race in hand, the starters had another three lapper in hand and by now the ladies had the wind cycles sorted out and the possibility of a SoPYC double was on offer. Unfortunately a DSQ took Jen Sims of SoPYC out and her over the line 5th would have given her a hard won overall third spot, but she gracefully accepted a fourth on count back to Sandy Anderson of Royal Freshwater Bay YC while Royal Perth's Jen Richardson took the over all second with a third spot on the last race.
Congratulations to SoPYC's April Jorgensen and her crew. With the wins spread amongst the fleet, consistency was the name of the game and April had a strong knowledge base which with to work from on the boat. But they still didn't know that they'd won the series until they had parked up and others let them know. This gives the SoPYC
teams two wins in two years.
Many thanks to Swan River Sailing and Carolyne Bush in particular for getting me onto the water and of course to Andy Fethers and Jay for the driving. And of course the lady sailors - without whom I wouldn't have such images.
Till next year then......