The Rumble in the Reach 2023
A view from the balcony.
For many years I have taken photos from a mark boat, support boat and occasionally a private power boat. I’d always wondered what the view was like from the balcony.
So last Saturday I did just that..
Sure enough I was camped on the balcony with John Senior for company with a few other SoPYC people including Fran and Richard Evans and rear commodore Vicki Blanks camped inside. Originally I wasn’t going to take any pix but the camera was in the boot, just in case.
Lets face it was an easterly, not the greatest day for the Rumble, but it brought out different skills and the prime one was dealing with the subtlety of the easterly breeze. Gusty, holes, swinging left and right. I think you get the picture.
The mix of sports boats was interesting and the Vipers were there in full force, with Melges and Farrs in evidence but I was there to support Octopussy, the Shaw 650 that Rees Howells drives and it was loaded up with old mates from the 1990’s. Handicaps aside it was going to be a sod of a day for everyone as the breeze swirled around them.
Consistency was the key and as the boats worked out the breeze so they moved up and down the scoreboard. Excitable a Princess Royal boat scored two firsts, but the first race and a 14th took them out of contention. Akaiya from Freshie was showing well to take a win in the first race but may have been handicapped out for the rest of the day. By my reckoning, the winner was the boat that showed consistency with Just Like Heaven picking up the day with a number one less than Akaiya.
A down wind start with a lot of wineglasses and a finish with half the fleet crossing the early finishers made for some serious dodging and the mid fleet boats had their work cut out to avoid an accident. Just about all the boats tried laying it flat and Octopussy put on some great saves across the river. No room for questions, either you made it or you fell over.
The Vipers were in full flight and up against them were a number of hot boats from around the river. It was a case of who has the best handicap and could keep it. A number of stalwarts mixed it with the new boats and it was lots of fun with boats still wiping out in 12 to 15 knots on the water. A pity that Grant Alderson on Akaiya didn’t do better as its a nice little sports boat and the team on board were good.
A worthwhile visit to East Fremantle Yacht Club. .
So last Saturday I did just that..
Sure enough I was camped on the balcony with John Senior for company with a few other SoPYC people including Fran and Richard Evans and rear commodore Vicki Blanks camped inside. Originally I wasn’t going to take any pix but the camera was in the boot, just in case.
Lets face it was an easterly, not the greatest day for the Rumble, but it brought out different skills and the prime one was dealing with the subtlety of the easterly breeze. Gusty, holes, swinging left and right. I think you get the picture.
The mix of sports boats was interesting and the Vipers were there in full force, with Melges and Farrs in evidence but I was there to support Octopussy, the Shaw 650 that Rees Howells drives and it was loaded up with old mates from the 1990’s. Handicaps aside it was going to be a sod of a day for everyone as the breeze swirled around them.
Consistency was the key and as the boats worked out the breeze so they moved up and down the scoreboard. Excitable a Princess Royal boat scored two firsts, but the first race and a 14th took them out of contention. Akaiya from Freshie was showing well to take a win in the first race but may have been handicapped out for the rest of the day. By my reckoning, the winner was the boat that showed consistency with Just Like Heaven picking up the day with a number one less than Akaiya.
A down wind start with a lot of wineglasses and a finish with half the fleet crossing the early finishers made for some serious dodging and the mid fleet boats had their work cut out to avoid an accident. Just about all the boats tried laying it flat and Octopussy put on some great saves across the river. No room for questions, either you made it or you fell over.
The Vipers were in full flight and up against them were a number of hot boats from around the river. It was a case of who has the best handicap and could keep it. A number of stalwarts mixed it with the new boats and it was lots of fun with boats still wiping out in 12 to 15 knots on the water. A pity that Grant Alderson on Akaiya didn’t do better as its a nice little sports boat and the team on board were good.
A worthwhile visit to East Fremantle Yacht Club. .