The 2017 Pelican States
at the South of Perth Yacht Club
Friday the 13th of January
Nominally the date would have me wondering whether it was safe to go outside my front door. But I did and rocked up at the yacht club to see a light breeze in the Canning and the dinghies getting saddled up and ready to go. But before I reached the water I learnt that another race had been sailed on Thursday afternoon and predictably there had been the spate of breakages and DNF's. However the cream rose to the top and even showed some spirit by throwing up spinnakers for the down winds.
The first race was held in snakes and ladders territory, with reading the water and staying in the middle helped. But banging corners worked as well for one young team who went way out to the left to try and pick up the puffs coming down the Canning and it worked for them, delivering them to a very good second or third around the top mark for the first time. Then the pressure began to lift, just a little, but it was enough to ensure that the top sailors were able to regain their positions closer to the top of the fleet, but Trim from Esperance made it to the line first. Well done them.
A little horse play was indulged as the start team waited for the incoming sea breeze so we joined them for a cup of coffee and a delightful avocado dip with a little sting in the back of it. Tasty indeed. Many thanks for the break and a chance to photograph the sailors horsing around.
By midday the racecourse was set in Melville Water East with a course three on offer. Fun and games for all as the breeze was building nicely. A lot of west to begin, but it was trying to rotate into the south as the afternoon progressed. The sailors were in their element as they were sailing with the last 5 days solid experience and throwing up a kite was second nature by now. Again with a fresh breeze the leading boats were doing well and it was in the last leg of the race that disaster struck for Sea King as an unexpected gust caught them unaware and a broach resulted. Bailing a boat out is not fun and worse when your chief rival sails past you with a proud spinnaker held aloft. So a second rather that a first over the line.
On handicap Pineapple Monday was the winner by 2 points on the regatta and Sea King took second with Just Magic and Trim taking third and fourth respectively.
Over the line for the regatta Sea King took 1st place with Pineapple Monday second. Just Magic and Trim took third and fourth again.
I'd like to give my thanks to Tim Putt who did a great job in getting the young sailors onto the water and thank the country clubs who really came to the fore, bringing a solid tent land feel to the place with caravans and tents galore. To the volunteers who made the place work with their help especially during the rough stuff and to Dennis who drove for me for the regatta. A GBYC sailor and father of a young sailor on Osmosis, he showed remarkable restraint when we followed other boats than his. Of course no regatta would be anything without RO Les Swinton and his team. A damn fine job done.
Yes these images are available for sale.
Nominally the date would have me wondering whether it was safe to go outside my front door. But I did and rocked up at the yacht club to see a light breeze in the Canning and the dinghies getting saddled up and ready to go. But before I reached the water I learnt that another race had been sailed on Thursday afternoon and predictably there had been the spate of breakages and DNF's. However the cream rose to the top and even showed some spirit by throwing up spinnakers for the down winds.
The first race was held in snakes and ladders territory, with reading the water and staying in the middle helped. But banging corners worked as well for one young team who went way out to the left to try and pick up the puffs coming down the Canning and it worked for them, delivering them to a very good second or third around the top mark for the first time. Then the pressure began to lift, just a little, but it was enough to ensure that the top sailors were able to regain their positions closer to the top of the fleet, but Trim from Esperance made it to the line first. Well done them.
A little horse play was indulged as the start team waited for the incoming sea breeze so we joined them for a cup of coffee and a delightful avocado dip with a little sting in the back of it. Tasty indeed. Many thanks for the break and a chance to photograph the sailors horsing around.
By midday the racecourse was set in Melville Water East with a course three on offer. Fun and games for all as the breeze was building nicely. A lot of west to begin, but it was trying to rotate into the south as the afternoon progressed. The sailors were in their element as they were sailing with the last 5 days solid experience and throwing up a kite was second nature by now. Again with a fresh breeze the leading boats were doing well and it was in the last leg of the race that disaster struck for Sea King as an unexpected gust caught them unaware and a broach resulted. Bailing a boat out is not fun and worse when your chief rival sails past you with a proud spinnaker held aloft. So a second rather that a first over the line.
On handicap Pineapple Monday was the winner by 2 points on the regatta and Sea King took second with Just Magic and Trim taking third and fourth respectively.
Over the line for the regatta Sea King took 1st place with Pineapple Monday second. Just Magic and Trim took third and fourth again.
I'd like to give my thanks to Tim Putt who did a great job in getting the young sailors onto the water and thank the country clubs who really came to the fore, bringing a solid tent land feel to the place with caravans and tents galore. To the volunteers who made the place work with their help especially during the rough stuff and to Dennis who drove for me for the regatta. A GBYC sailor and father of a young sailor on Osmosis, he showed remarkable restraint when we followed other boats than his. Of course no regatta would be anything without RO Les Swinton and his team. A damn fine job done.
Yes these images are available for sale.
Thursday the 12th of January
A complete reverse of Tuesday. A screaming humping southerly buster and a few nervous looks at Melville Water East from the sailors. "No problems" said the RO Les Swinton. "We'll shift into the Canning River and see how we go." I was happy, flat water sailing and plenty of pressure. (southerly and 18 to 25 knots)
Before we had even started, a call from a young team for assistance had us towing them in with a busted mainsheet shackle. So once they were on the beach, then we could photograph. And there was a bit to watch. The crack boats had realised that staying upright was the go and only once did any one dare a kite and it was hauled down within 20 meters. Too darned risky. A course three had them on a wing run and we caught up with them as they went around the bottom mark, so we retired to the top mark to see how they made it up the course.
Heavy gusts meant that the safe way was going up the middle but tacking was always going to be a problem in these heavy breezes, but the smart ones realised that it was safer to do it in the middle rather than go out to bang a corner. The leader was predicatably Sea King, a local team who had sailed this stuff before, but delightfully Southern Star V from Esperance was doing very well and seems to appreciate a bit of rough stuff.
The down wind legs were always dangerous with gybes being the cause of many tears and up turned boats. But not to be undone at least one boat was demasted ( Cool Runnings ) and one or two lost centreboards and spinnaker poles.
As we don't have the full days results, I'll forgo an analysis of the day, but at present Pineapple Monday and Sea King are the top boats with one or two that may get into the top three if another race can be taken today.
Enjoy the images.
A complete reverse of Tuesday. A screaming humping southerly buster and a few nervous looks at Melville Water East from the sailors. "No problems" said the RO Les Swinton. "We'll shift into the Canning River and see how we go." I was happy, flat water sailing and plenty of pressure. (southerly and 18 to 25 knots)
Before we had even started, a call from a young team for assistance had us towing them in with a busted mainsheet shackle. So once they were on the beach, then we could photograph. And there was a bit to watch. The crack boats had realised that staying upright was the go and only once did any one dare a kite and it was hauled down within 20 meters. Too darned risky. A course three had them on a wing run and we caught up with them as they went around the bottom mark, so we retired to the top mark to see how they made it up the course.
Heavy gusts meant that the safe way was going up the middle but tacking was always going to be a problem in these heavy breezes, but the smart ones realised that it was safer to do it in the middle rather than go out to bang a corner. The leader was predicatably Sea King, a local team who had sailed this stuff before, but delightfully Southern Star V from Esperance was doing very well and seems to appreciate a bit of rough stuff.
The down wind legs were always dangerous with gybes being the cause of many tears and up turned boats. But not to be undone at least one boat was demasted ( Cool Runnings ) and one or two lost centreboards and spinnaker poles.
As we don't have the full days results, I'll forgo an analysis of the day, but at present Pineapple Monday and Sea King are the top boats with one or two that may get into the top three if another race can be taken today.
Enjoy the images.
Tuesday the 10th of January
The morning was already warm when I arrived with a westerly that was trying to push through Melville Waters.
By now we were starting to get some idea of who was going to be at the front and it was with great pleasure that the day unfolded before us.
On a westerly breeze of about 5 to 7 knots, the first race was significant by the cheeky port crossing of the fleet on the start line by a couple of boats, namely Combat and Westwind. Well picked Riley and Jack. However it wasn't to be their day as Pineapple Monday with Ollie and Paige did great job to take first over the line in the slowly building breeze. Everyone retired for lunch to see whether the breeze would pick up a bit and we watched in amusement as a couple of boats tried to cross the mud flats with their centerboards not all the way up. The yellow boat came to a sudden stop, much to the amusement of those on board the media boat and the rest of the fleet decided to hoist their centerboards before following him into the beach. A long lunch was held with all seeking shade and watching the weather observations to see if the breeze would lift at all. At the same time a new mast was found for the pre bent mast of Tasty Taddie and it was installed just in time for the call on to the water.
By 1 pm the start team was observed wending their way out to the start boat and the shore marshall had the fleets moving off the beach. By now we had 12 to 15 knots that would eventually gust up to 20 + knots later in the day, but I'm ahead of myself. Now the question was go left or go right.
On Melville water with a sea breeze in, going left will provide a big lift when you finally flick back onto port. But early in the afternoon it wasn't working and up the middle was good with one or two boats pulling off blinders even when they started banging the corners on the RH side near the top. But laying the mark was going to be the problem coming across on starboard and a number of boats had that nasty little double tack next to the mark (leaves you vulnerable) and one green boat had three attempts to get around the top before they finally made it.
Race two was snapped up by Excalibur, having lead for the first two marks and then surrendered their lead to Osmosis. Pineapple Monday took third. Mind you, the shortening up of the race due to a drop out in the breeze may have helped.
The third race of the day had the breeze building a little more and RO Les had the line pushed out a little and gates dropped in for some windward - leeward racing. It was great fun to have Tim Putt out there on the water with his waterproof camera. Sorry I should have said in the water, however he was having a ball as were the Pelicans. They were lining up to be photographed so we took photo's of him photographing the sailors. Unfortunately the camera was lost on the last rounding of the gates. Oh dear! I was looking forward to seeing the images.
It was Sea Kings day with a fine battle between Tasty Taddy and Just Magic for second and third. The first drop has come in and it has allowed me to say that the boats running third and fourth ( Just Magic and Trim ) haven't won a race yet, but consistently good perfomances have kept them up there. As for the top two, although the local team on Sea King are holding the lead, Pineapple Monday only has to concentrate to knock them off the top. They racked up two firsts and a third in the first four races, but managed to squueze in a 19 and a 10. Consitency will win this regatta, nothing else.
Enjoy the lay day and I'll be back on Thursday for the morning.
The morning was already warm when I arrived with a westerly that was trying to push through Melville Waters.
By now we were starting to get some idea of who was going to be at the front and it was with great pleasure that the day unfolded before us.
On a westerly breeze of about 5 to 7 knots, the first race was significant by the cheeky port crossing of the fleet on the start line by a couple of boats, namely Combat and Westwind. Well picked Riley and Jack. However it wasn't to be their day as Pineapple Monday with Ollie and Paige did great job to take first over the line in the slowly building breeze. Everyone retired for lunch to see whether the breeze would pick up a bit and we watched in amusement as a couple of boats tried to cross the mud flats with their centerboards not all the way up. The yellow boat came to a sudden stop, much to the amusement of those on board the media boat and the rest of the fleet decided to hoist their centerboards before following him into the beach. A long lunch was held with all seeking shade and watching the weather observations to see if the breeze would lift at all. At the same time a new mast was found for the pre bent mast of Tasty Taddie and it was installed just in time for the call on to the water.
By 1 pm the start team was observed wending their way out to the start boat and the shore marshall had the fleets moving off the beach. By now we had 12 to 15 knots that would eventually gust up to 20 + knots later in the day, but I'm ahead of myself. Now the question was go left or go right.
On Melville water with a sea breeze in, going left will provide a big lift when you finally flick back onto port. But early in the afternoon it wasn't working and up the middle was good with one or two boats pulling off blinders even when they started banging the corners on the RH side near the top. But laying the mark was going to be the problem coming across on starboard and a number of boats had that nasty little double tack next to the mark (leaves you vulnerable) and one green boat had three attempts to get around the top before they finally made it.
Race two was snapped up by Excalibur, having lead for the first two marks and then surrendered their lead to Osmosis. Pineapple Monday took third. Mind you, the shortening up of the race due to a drop out in the breeze may have helped.
The third race of the day had the breeze building a little more and RO Les had the line pushed out a little and gates dropped in for some windward - leeward racing. It was great fun to have Tim Putt out there on the water with his waterproof camera. Sorry I should have said in the water, however he was having a ball as were the Pelicans. They were lining up to be photographed so we took photo's of him photographing the sailors. Unfortunately the camera was lost on the last rounding of the gates. Oh dear! I was looking forward to seeing the images.
It was Sea Kings day with a fine battle between Tasty Taddy and Just Magic for second and third. The first drop has come in and it has allowed me to say that the boats running third and fourth ( Just Magic and Trim ) haven't won a race yet, but consistently good perfomances have kept them up there. As for the top two, although the local team on Sea King are holding the lead, Pineapple Monday only has to concentrate to knock them off the top. They racked up two firsts and a third in the first four races, but managed to squueze in a 19 and a 10. Consitency will win this regatta, nothing else.
Enjoy the lay day and I'll be back on Thursday for the morning.
Monday the 9th of January
The day started with a soft easterly that didnt get much above 7 knots all morning. It was a typical summers day on the Swan River and the Pelicans were ready to go. The skippers were from all over the state and a strong country representation was there to cause grief to the locals.
However, knowing the local breezes helps a lot and by the time RO Les Swinton had them on their way in the invitational race the locals were checking out the gusts and heading over to where the breeze was coming from. Yes you're right, it was the Canning River, meaning that it was an Easterly with more than a hint of south in it. Still as the locals will tell you the trick was staying in pressure and it was a game of snakes and ladders. But wait, it was a course three and the course read differently from the cards that had been distributed ( or so I'm led to believe ). An extra lap had been inserted. Oh dear. Lucky it was an invitational. So the race was discarded eventually after a query was lodged and the race was scheduled to be had after the first two official races that afternoon.
So we went ashore and waited for the breeze to come in. Bang. One o'clock and the seabreeze filled in. Great sailing for the afternoon and with the occasional upset when rounding at the top mark. ( forgetting to let the mainsheet off helps ) We had 12 to 15 knots on the water in a west sou wester that went into the south west and built to a roisterous 17 to 23 knots by 3.30 in the afternoon. Champagne sailing and most were coping well with the breeze. I even saw one or two devil may care helmsmen sliding down the wind waves, picking up places as they did so.
There was one incident in the second race at the top mark where the person involved may wish to take their words back, as they were distinctly audible to the Jury boat, the top mark boat and all the boats around. Other than that there was a couple of incidents where a boat tried to nose dive ( picture included) and there's another of a mast that will break fairly shortly. ( we called it pre bend ) Either that or the vang's on so hard........ ( it's the last image )
I look forward to the next day on the water. Enjoy the images.
The day started with a soft easterly that didnt get much above 7 knots all morning. It was a typical summers day on the Swan River and the Pelicans were ready to go. The skippers were from all over the state and a strong country representation was there to cause grief to the locals.
However, knowing the local breezes helps a lot and by the time RO Les Swinton had them on their way in the invitational race the locals were checking out the gusts and heading over to where the breeze was coming from. Yes you're right, it was the Canning River, meaning that it was an Easterly with more than a hint of south in it. Still as the locals will tell you the trick was staying in pressure and it was a game of snakes and ladders. But wait, it was a course three and the course read differently from the cards that had been distributed ( or so I'm led to believe ). An extra lap had been inserted. Oh dear. Lucky it was an invitational. So the race was discarded eventually after a query was lodged and the race was scheduled to be had after the first two official races that afternoon.
So we went ashore and waited for the breeze to come in. Bang. One o'clock and the seabreeze filled in. Great sailing for the afternoon and with the occasional upset when rounding at the top mark. ( forgetting to let the mainsheet off helps ) We had 12 to 15 knots on the water in a west sou wester that went into the south west and built to a roisterous 17 to 23 knots by 3.30 in the afternoon. Champagne sailing and most were coping well with the breeze. I even saw one or two devil may care helmsmen sliding down the wind waves, picking up places as they did so.
There was one incident in the second race at the top mark where the person involved may wish to take their words back, as they were distinctly audible to the Jury boat, the top mark boat and all the boats around. Other than that there was a couple of incidents where a boat tried to nose dive ( picture included) and there's another of a mast that will break fairly shortly. ( we called it pre bend ) Either that or the vang's on so hard........ ( it's the last image )
I look forward to the next day on the water. Enjoy the images.