The Cockburn Sound Regatta 2013
With nearly 60 boats on the water, the regatta was set for fun. A bunch of wooden boats came down and the JaM fleet was bigger than ever. The big boats were booked in and only damage to WoW and Sled kept those two from competing as well. Hi ho, we've got some pretty good boats to have fun with. Whippit, the catamaran that does handstands is down as well. Will they repeat their feat two years in a row?
A note to those following the action, I will get images up either on the night or in the early am, but remember I'm sailing as well and I'll be working after each day on the water to try to get it up. It ain't going to happen every time.
A note to those following the action, I will get images up either on the night or in the early am, but remember I'm sailing as well and I'll be working after each day on the water to try to get it up. It ain't going to happen every time.
The First Day am session only
It was a grey day as I made my way down, with spots of rain on the windshield. Not nice... all my wet weather gear is on the boat. It starts to clear as I turn into Val St and the club looms into view.
The breeze is off the land and appears to be strengthening a little , may be 6 to 10 knots. We all meet up and the H28 group welcomes each other and looks to see who is doing what. Shortly after this, the official welcome and Trevor Milne the RO, is called upon to tell us what we need to know at the last minute. It looks as though the passage races may be shifted to Saturday as it is predicted to blow above 25 knots. Nice one.
Onto the water hoping to get good shots early, but they have us on windward leeward racing and we are away from the main fleet. I also get to do strings so no chance to pull the camera out and get a lot of pix. May be tomorrow.
Most of the images are in the gaps between strings or in the start up mode, prior to racing.
The breeze is off the land and appears to be strengthening a little , may be 6 to 10 knots. We all meet up and the H28 group welcomes each other and looks to see who is doing what. Shortly after this, the official welcome and Trevor Milne the RO, is called upon to tell us what we need to know at the last minute. It looks as though the passage races may be shifted to Saturday as it is predicted to blow above 25 knots. Nice one.
Onto the water hoping to get good shots early, but they have us on windward leeward racing and we are away from the main fleet. I also get to do strings so no chance to pull the camera out and get a lot of pix. May be tomorrow.
Most of the images are in the gaps between strings or in the start up mode, prior to racing.
Day Two The Cockburn Sound Regatta
Arriving down at the club around 8 am after a late night, the promises were good. An Easterly was working its way through and the organisers had us doing the passage race in the Classic fleet. Whacko !
The start was promising, but once again experience tells and the smart boats headed off to the beach to pick up the dying easterly and shot out to the front. At the mark at the top of Garden Island near the gates, the breeze died off and we lingered in a glass out with only zephyrs of the Easterly pushing us on. Then away down at the southern end near the Garden Island bridge, the breeze started. A westerly to begin and not much, but it got us around the corner. Then the breeze started to bend a little and build. Out of the South West and pumping up to 15 to 18 knots by 1400 hrs.
Ok the BoM got it wrong. It was a great days sailing and the usual drop out of the breeze was entirely predictable. Those who used local knowledge were in front, stayed in front and it was good sailing, but for all that only one spinnaker run, so on the breeze or reaching was the go for the most part. once the breeze settled in. Again, didn't have much luck with the big fleets, they were ginning around on the windward leeward course. No luck there.
See what tomorrow brings. The BoM forecast is for 25 knots. Spoke to Cambo before I left to get these up and he suggested windward leeward again. I'd rather not do those in 25 knots thanks. A short course near the beach in the cover of the island sounds good. Wait and see.
Once again we were very well catered for and the people at the club are great to have looking after you. Plenty of grub and the beer is well priced. Only trouble we have is the 40 minute drive home. No beers for the driver!
Enjoy the images as they stand.
The start was promising, but once again experience tells and the smart boats headed off to the beach to pick up the dying easterly and shot out to the front. At the mark at the top of Garden Island near the gates, the breeze died off and we lingered in a glass out with only zephyrs of the Easterly pushing us on. Then away down at the southern end near the Garden Island bridge, the breeze started. A westerly to begin and not much, but it got us around the corner. Then the breeze started to bend a little and build. Out of the South West and pumping up to 15 to 18 knots by 1400 hrs.
Ok the BoM got it wrong. It was a great days sailing and the usual drop out of the breeze was entirely predictable. Those who used local knowledge were in front, stayed in front and it was good sailing, but for all that only one spinnaker run, so on the breeze or reaching was the go for the most part. once the breeze settled in. Again, didn't have much luck with the big fleets, they were ginning around on the windward leeward course. No luck there.
See what tomorrow brings. The BoM forecast is for 25 knots. Spoke to Cambo before I left to get these up and he suggested windward leeward again. I'd rather not do those in 25 knots thanks. A short course near the beach in the cover of the island sounds good. Wait and see.
Once again we were very well catered for and the people at the club are great to have looking after you. Plenty of grub and the beer is well priced. Only trouble we have is the 40 minute drive home. No beers for the driver!
Enjoy the images as they stand.
Day Three
Sorry to report that we were slightly shorthanded today and the breeze did pick up a little . From 15 to 20 to 25 knots. And we were running a kite. They cancelled sailing for the arvo but sent us out on the longest course possible for the passage race in the morning. Totally buggered by the time we got in.
An interesting day, but no pix to consider apart from a few pre start pictures. Enjoy these and hopefully tomorrow will be more amenable to photography.
An interesting day, but no pix to consider apart from a few pre start pictures. Enjoy these and hopefully tomorrow will be more amenable to photography.
Day Four
The best day yet
Once the breeze settled in, it was champagne sailing with the breeze out of the south west and up to about 12 to 15 knots. The Club had us on "round the buoys" and it was the shorter of the courses available. For once we had a course where all the boats were mixing amongst one another and I could get the camera out in between kite runs ( and even when we were on the strings ). The big boats were first under way and I managed to get behind them on the start line. Good shots of Optimist Prime and Endorfin getting their race into action with Charlotte a close third. Then came Sue Sea who missed the start by a good 30 seconds. No matter, all grist for the mill.
Then into the racing as the fleets managed to get away and several turn points were interesting as both big and small boats tried to fit into corners that the big boats had the advantage on. Wind shadows caused some grief.
Then a brief period when the div four boats came toward us and I could shoot straight into the boats as they came toward us.
The race was over too quickly and we headed back to the moorings and returned to the club house for results. A few snaps were taken, but in the main it was a time to reflect on a good 4 days on the water and prepare for the return trip to Fremantle and the trip up the river. Well done to John Holder, veteran sailor and J&M competitor on the day. He took the over all honours and well deserved. One comment he made during the presentation rings true... More one class racing would be great. Only the three Marten 49's and the Herreshoff 28's offered true fleet racing. He'd like to see more of it.
Many thanks to The Cruising Yacht Club and their sponsors, the staff, RO Trevor Milne and the start crew and every yachtie who made his way down there to sail. A good regatta.
Enjoy the images.
Then into the racing as the fleets managed to get away and several turn points were interesting as both big and small boats tried to fit into corners that the big boats had the advantage on. Wind shadows caused some grief.
Then a brief period when the div four boats came toward us and I could shoot straight into the boats as they came toward us.
The race was over too quickly and we headed back to the moorings and returned to the club house for results. A few snaps were taken, but in the main it was a time to reflect on a good 4 days on the water and prepare for the return trip to Fremantle and the trip up the river. Well done to John Holder, veteran sailor and J&M competitor on the day. He took the over all honours and well deserved. One comment he made during the presentation rings true... More one class racing would be great. Only the three Marten 49's and the Herreshoff 28's offered true fleet racing. He'd like to see more of it.
Many thanks to The Cruising Yacht Club and their sponsors, the staff, RO Trevor Milne and the start crew and every yachtie who made his way down there to sail. A good regatta.
Enjoy the images.