The 2013 Interclub Championships on the Swan river
The battle has been going on for 22 years according to Race officer Andy ( reading from a prepared script ), but he still thinks he's 25 years old and it's only been going for 5.
The traditional clubs are up for review on the river and the two royals, plus south of perth, with mounts bay and east fremantle are joining the fray. As a measure of their capability, fremantle sailing club has mustered a team and the race is on in earnest.
The first race was for the veterans and not too many grey hairs were seen as a bunch of sailors gathered for the briefing at 1500 hrs. Skip Lissiman took the lead role and let people know of the history of the event and basic safety rules and passed on to Andy the RO from MBSC , the host of the event this year. Andy then discussed the event , the weather and how it was to be done. The umpires were recognised and allowed to say their piece with understanding from the veterans that they were in charge.
A wet drizzly day, more like Melbourne on a good day. Very little breeze and out of the N /E with swings either way that would bedevil Andy the RO later on. Still we had 5 knots and that was enough to get the event under way.
These are the workable pictures taken on a dark and dreary day with the lights from various buildings quite evident behind the boats, however the trusty electronics came through and we have a few images to enjoy. Any questions about OCS will be answered by the race committee and not the photographer.
The traditional clubs are up for review on the river and the two royals, plus south of perth, with mounts bay and east fremantle are joining the fray. As a measure of their capability, fremantle sailing club has mustered a team and the race is on in earnest.
The first race was for the veterans and not too many grey hairs were seen as a bunch of sailors gathered for the briefing at 1500 hrs. Skip Lissiman took the lead role and let people know of the history of the event and basic safety rules and passed on to Andy the RO from MBSC , the host of the event this year. Andy then discussed the event , the weather and how it was to be done. The umpires were recognised and allowed to say their piece with understanding from the veterans that they were in charge.
A wet drizzly day, more like Melbourne on a good day. Very little breeze and out of the N /E with swings either way that would bedevil Andy the RO later on. Still we had 5 knots and that was enough to get the event under way.
These are the workable pictures taken on a dark and dreary day with the lights from various buildings quite evident behind the boats, however the trusty electronics came through and we have a few images to enjoy. Any questions about OCS will be answered by the race committee and not the photographer.
Day Two Saturday morning the 13th of April
Ladies Day
If it was a horse, you would have shot it!
When I got there , the river was almost glass and RO Andy was chewing on his lip reflectively. " We'll go out and see what we can get."
This time I was out on a rib and the opportunity to get close ups was working. However first we needed a breeze. As we went on to the water the tardy north easter kicked in. Fitful and swinging
Bugger it.... set the line, pull down the AP and get the race under way.
A good start and by the end of the first leg up to the top, the breeze was fading and a good decision was made to shorten the race asap. A finish at the gates was set in place and at least a result was available.
The second race.... well we got a breeze out of the south east finally and it settled down to a steady 4 to 6 knots. A full sequence was sailed and it was indeed thinking sailing. A couple of possible infringements occurred and one protest was withdrawn prior to debate and the other was decided with a DSQ. In the end, it was an interesting day out and as I left before the results were given out.... I cannot give you the final update.
When I got there , the river was almost glass and RO Andy was chewing on his lip reflectively. " We'll go out and see what we can get."
This time I was out on a rib and the opportunity to get close ups was working. However first we needed a breeze. As we went on to the water the tardy north easter kicked in. Fitful and swinging
Bugger it.... set the line, pull down the AP and get the race under way.
A good start and by the end of the first leg up to the top, the breeze was fading and a good decision was made to shorten the race asap. A finish at the gates was set in place and at least a result was available.
The second race.... well we got a breeze out of the south east finally and it settled down to a steady 4 to 6 knots. A full sequence was sailed and it was indeed thinking sailing. A couple of possible infringements occurred and one protest was withdrawn prior to debate and the other was decided with a DSQ. In the end, it was an interesting day out and as I left before the results were given out.... I cannot give you the final update.
Day Three Sunday Afternoon the 14th of April
For some reason, there were still people hanging around MBSC when I got there at 12.30 on Sunday afternoon.
There was no breeze to speak of and quite frankly, everyone thought that RO Andy would can the whole thing and let the results from the morning's sail conclude the day. And then they had only managed to get one race in and it was a "just made it" effort.
We hadn't see East Fremantle since Friday and it was to our amazement that the black spinnaker popped and East Freo sauntered out onto the water and proceeded to play the little puffs with ease , almost forcing RO Andy's hand. Ok. It's two oclock --- onto the water and lets give it a try. As you will see from the first dozen images there was nothing and even the judges had lost interest and started studying their rule books. Well Phil did anyway.
A slight breeze snuck around Pelican point and within 10 minutes the course was set and the flags were waving.
Sudden death ..one lap and three clubs could do it. With SoPYC leading on the mornings results and RFBYC just a point away, it needed a turn over and a white knight to split the two teams. See the images for yourself. By the way East Freo won the race, but that's not the issue .....
There was no breeze to speak of and quite frankly, everyone thought that RO Andy would can the whole thing and let the results from the morning's sail conclude the day. And then they had only managed to get one race in and it was a "just made it" effort.
We hadn't see East Fremantle since Friday and it was to our amazement that the black spinnaker popped and East Freo sauntered out onto the water and proceeded to play the little puffs with ease , almost forcing RO Andy's hand. Ok. It's two oclock --- onto the water and lets give it a try. As you will see from the first dozen images there was nothing and even the judges had lost interest and started studying their rule books. Well Phil did anyway.
A slight breeze snuck around Pelican point and within 10 minutes the course was set and the flags were waving.
Sudden death ..one lap and three clubs could do it. With SoPYC leading on the mornings results and RFBYC just a point away, it needed a turn over and a white knight to split the two teams. See the images for yourself. By the way East Freo won the race, but that's not the issue .....