The Parkland Mazda 2016 National 125 States
at SoPYC over the Easter Weekend
This looks like a good weekend to stay close to the river rather than going offshore. The National 125's are doing their states this Easter at SoPYC and I've been invited to join them. This page will follow them over the three days.
Sunday the 27th of March
Hooray!
There was a stiff breeze out of the south east and it was hitting us with a base of 15 knots and lumping up to 20 knots in the gusts. Again Simon was driving for me and was in control of where I wanted to be. RO Les Swinton had the top mark tucked into Waylen bay and it didn't shift all morning. The gusts flowed down both sides of the course and it was up to the boats themselves to choose the way to go. Banging the corners was useful and the R/H side worked for some, but I saw a couple of good moves from those who drove up the centre. I guess they could pick the shifts better than some of the competitors. However one or two of the lefties were in good shape, actually over laying the mark on the way to the top for the first time. Then we progressed down the course to see what may come at us on the way back up, prior to going to the wing mark for the first time.
The first race was cut short for us as we were called to support a boat in trouble and we were happy to attend to them and ensure that they were able to continue. By now, the race had hit the bottom mark for the second last time on a course five and we were able to get a few images as they rounded, but yes there were boats falling over still. Depowering the boats was important and the up ended boats were the telltales. Please enjoy the images of Flash Back as she decided to take a new line into the mark. (Or did Emily twitch the tiller a little.) A good finish for Going Gonzo who needed it to stay alive and he said it with a resounding roar as they crossed the line.
Thanks to the kindness of the RO, the second race was held back for a moment or so as a 125 was still in the drink repairing damage to his main hoist. Given a 5 minute call by the RO, he was able to complete his repairs and joined the fleet in time for the start.
The start line was great and a chance to photograph across the line was presented to us. The images were taken and these are but a few of what the camera rattled off. Again the choice of which side was on offer and when the wind dropped mid way through the race with a serious shift in the breeze, the wing run turned into a gentle glide down to the wing mark. No stiff armed, mad ride down a shy course. However it's only points that matter if you're going for the championship and blood and bones may be shed or broken on the way there. Fortunately none was cracked or spread on the course, though a broken boom was noticed as the boat was towed home by a support boat.
Again the lead shifted and the first home was Flash 3.0. But the results will have to be posted , as will the results.
Many thanks to the National 125 Association of WA and the South of Perth Yacht Club who assisted in putting me onto the water and fed and watered me. To the volunteers who do the unrecognized work behind the scenes, well done and to the myriads of parents and family who support the sport of sailing, thank you. Without you we wouldn't be on the water. The sailors need no formal recognition.... their images are up here for you to enjoy.
Enjoy the photo's.
There was a stiff breeze out of the south east and it was hitting us with a base of 15 knots and lumping up to 20 knots in the gusts. Again Simon was driving for me and was in control of where I wanted to be. RO Les Swinton had the top mark tucked into Waylen bay and it didn't shift all morning. The gusts flowed down both sides of the course and it was up to the boats themselves to choose the way to go. Banging the corners was useful and the R/H side worked for some, but I saw a couple of good moves from those who drove up the centre. I guess they could pick the shifts better than some of the competitors. However one or two of the lefties were in good shape, actually over laying the mark on the way to the top for the first time. Then we progressed down the course to see what may come at us on the way back up, prior to going to the wing mark for the first time.
The first race was cut short for us as we were called to support a boat in trouble and we were happy to attend to them and ensure that they were able to continue. By now, the race had hit the bottom mark for the second last time on a course five and we were able to get a few images as they rounded, but yes there were boats falling over still. Depowering the boats was important and the up ended boats were the telltales. Please enjoy the images of Flash Back as she decided to take a new line into the mark. (Or did Emily twitch the tiller a little.) A good finish for Going Gonzo who needed it to stay alive and he said it with a resounding roar as they crossed the line.
Thanks to the kindness of the RO, the second race was held back for a moment or so as a 125 was still in the drink repairing damage to his main hoist. Given a 5 minute call by the RO, he was able to complete his repairs and joined the fleet in time for the start.
The start line was great and a chance to photograph across the line was presented to us. The images were taken and these are but a few of what the camera rattled off. Again the choice of which side was on offer and when the wind dropped mid way through the race with a serious shift in the breeze, the wing run turned into a gentle glide down to the wing mark. No stiff armed, mad ride down a shy course. However it's only points that matter if you're going for the championship and blood and bones may be shed or broken on the way there. Fortunately none was cracked or spread on the course, though a broken boom was noticed as the boat was towed home by a support boat.
Again the lead shifted and the first home was Flash 3.0. But the results will have to be posted , as will the results.
Many thanks to the National 125 Association of WA and the South of Perth Yacht Club who assisted in putting me onto the water and fed and watered me. To the volunteers who do the unrecognized work behind the scenes, well done and to the myriads of parents and family who support the sport of sailing, thank you. Without you we wouldn't be on the water. The sailors need no formal recognition.... their images are up here for you to enjoy.
Enjoy the photo's.
Saturday the 26th of March
Easter Saturday and a number of showers had already hit the burb's overnight and the promise was more for the day. And how true that was.
The breeze was at least workable and you guessed it, out of the east. But there were rain showers moving across the river on a regular basis and it was going to be a sod of day. I'd been found a driver for the day and Simon, a father of one of the 125 sailors, was good company and importantly a knowledgeable driver as well. I'd pleaded for a boat with a bit of cover for the day and the club was obliging in providing me with an ISAF rib with a lid on it. All was well.
RO Les Swinton had a mission to fill and that was two races in the morning and one in the afternoon. Without any hesitation, the flags were raised at 9.30 am and the first of three course 5's was kicked off for the day. The wind variation wasn't too bad and it was up to the helms to pick the gusts and keep the boats working, but it seems that the right hand side of the course was favoured on the first race with good gains to be made on the breeze from the Canning playing a part in the win. On the second race there was a shift of the marks as the wind appeared to move a little. Don't rely on the BOM forecast; that was from inner Dolphin, we definitely had the breeze moving a little to the left (north). Again playing the gusts worked, but the wind swung back into the east and even further to the south making the right hand side a good place to be on the way up to the top mark.
Did I say it was raining, oh my word it did, but there were gaps and occasionally the cloud lifted a little and it was bright enough for some good light to shoot in. Then in for lunch at around midday with the showers pausing so that we could have a relatively dry period.
Back on our heads again as the start boat announced the commencement of the afternoon race and we were joined by Evie from Esperance (currently studying environmental science at uni and a confirmed 125 sailor). The afternoon race was going to be a long one and the marks were pushed out so that there was going to be a long run for every one. Fortunately the wind was picking up and during the afternoon I was able to catch the occasional trapeze being used, but it was marginal at best. And down came the rain yet again, to the point that I put the camera away and pulled out a waterproof video camera ( I'll try to get something up later on).
As to the position after todays racing with one drop factored in.
Got to http://sportspage.com.au/yacht_clubs/sopyc/125States/progresultspage.htm
Enjoy the images
The breeze was at least workable and you guessed it, out of the east. But there were rain showers moving across the river on a regular basis and it was going to be a sod of day. I'd been found a driver for the day and Simon, a father of one of the 125 sailors, was good company and importantly a knowledgeable driver as well. I'd pleaded for a boat with a bit of cover for the day and the club was obliging in providing me with an ISAF rib with a lid on it. All was well.
RO Les Swinton had a mission to fill and that was two races in the morning and one in the afternoon. Without any hesitation, the flags were raised at 9.30 am and the first of three course 5's was kicked off for the day. The wind variation wasn't too bad and it was up to the helms to pick the gusts and keep the boats working, but it seems that the right hand side of the course was favoured on the first race with good gains to be made on the breeze from the Canning playing a part in the win. On the second race there was a shift of the marks as the wind appeared to move a little. Don't rely on the BOM forecast; that was from inner Dolphin, we definitely had the breeze moving a little to the left (north). Again playing the gusts worked, but the wind swung back into the east and even further to the south making the right hand side a good place to be on the way up to the top mark.
Did I say it was raining, oh my word it did, but there were gaps and occasionally the cloud lifted a little and it was bright enough for some good light to shoot in. Then in for lunch at around midday with the showers pausing so that we could have a relatively dry period.
Back on our heads again as the start boat announced the commencement of the afternoon race and we were joined by Evie from Esperance (currently studying environmental science at uni and a confirmed 125 sailor). The afternoon race was going to be a long one and the marks were pushed out so that there was going to be a long run for every one. Fortunately the wind was picking up and during the afternoon I was able to catch the occasional trapeze being used, but it was marginal at best. And down came the rain yet again, to the point that I put the camera away and pulled out a waterproof video camera ( I'll try to get something up later on).
As to the position after todays racing with one drop factored in.
Got to http://sportspage.com.au/yacht_clubs/sopyc/125States/progresultspage.htm
Enjoy the images
Friday the 25th of March
Good Friday is a day traditionally set aside for family activities so I guess that dad and daughter/son, bro and sis, etc. fits the bill. I did see a couple of blokes who were pushing the wrong side of 40 out there, but the median curve allows for all.
It was a soggy 30 + day with a puffy easterly moving around Melville water east with not much to encourage trapeze work. In fact the best of the day passed while we assembled and had lunch, then saddled up the boats to go onto the water.
In a nor easter that was just holding on, RO Les Swinton got the ball rolling and with a goodly number of National 125's on the water ( 23 ) and 3 125s and a stray Pacer who were sailing under JaM rules, we managed to get 27 boats on the water. As the racing progressed the breeze just managed to hold on and the rotation into the north was noticeable. However the RO was confident and the racing continued as the breeze became softer and softer. By the end of the race it was a relief that all of the fleet got over the line before the wind dropped out.
As this was the first race and held under very light winds, not too much credence was given to the finishing order, but the second race proved to be a better guide.
Around 3 pm the AP was still in evidence and the RO was confident that the seabreeze was due in as the view down river was becoming hazy and you could see darkening on the water. And then in came a west sou wester with a call of 260 degrees reported from the start boat. Not a big breeze but enough. Perhaps 5 to 10 knots in the gusts. Good enough was the call and the fleet was let loose on a longer course that had them on a windward /leeward run followed by a triangle and a w/l finish. Much more testing.
And guess what. On review of the over the line finish sheets for both races, three of the four boats in the first race finished in the top four of the second race. Sure handicaps have to be applied, but it was an indication of what may come tomorrow.
As to tomorrow...... rain and thunderstorms. I'll try to keep the camera dry, but poor light and rain will be testing.
Enjoy the images
It was a soggy 30 + day with a puffy easterly moving around Melville water east with not much to encourage trapeze work. In fact the best of the day passed while we assembled and had lunch, then saddled up the boats to go onto the water.
In a nor easter that was just holding on, RO Les Swinton got the ball rolling and with a goodly number of National 125's on the water ( 23 ) and 3 125s and a stray Pacer who were sailing under JaM rules, we managed to get 27 boats on the water. As the racing progressed the breeze just managed to hold on and the rotation into the north was noticeable. However the RO was confident and the racing continued as the breeze became softer and softer. By the end of the race it was a relief that all of the fleet got over the line before the wind dropped out.
As this was the first race and held under very light winds, not too much credence was given to the finishing order, but the second race proved to be a better guide.
Around 3 pm the AP was still in evidence and the RO was confident that the seabreeze was due in as the view down river was becoming hazy and you could see darkening on the water. And then in came a west sou wester with a call of 260 degrees reported from the start boat. Not a big breeze but enough. Perhaps 5 to 10 knots in the gusts. Good enough was the call and the fleet was let loose on a longer course that had them on a windward /leeward run followed by a triangle and a w/l finish. Much more testing.
And guess what. On review of the over the line finish sheets for both races, three of the four boats in the first race finished in the top four of the second race. Sure handicaps have to be applied, but it was an indication of what may come tomorrow.
As to tomorrow...... rain and thunderstorms. I'll try to keep the camera dry, but poor light and rain will be testing.
Enjoy the images