2014/15 VS Australian Championships - Gosford Day 3 Race Report

We’ve made it.  With six races completed the 70th Vee Ess Australian Championships will have a result. There are few classes that can boast 70 years worth of champions on a trophy.  To celebrate the association is holding a Vee Ess sailors (& supporters) reunion at Vaucluse YC on Saturday 7th March 2015.  More details to come but we’d love to catch up with Vee Ess sailors of all years.  Bring along any old memorabilia & hopefully catch up with old friends.  This seasons state title series will be sailed at VYC on the 7th & 8th so come early (or stay late!) & watch some of the current fleet enjoy sailing this great boat.
So to day 3 of the 70th nationals.  A bit more weight in the breeze allowed Firestorm to use the bit more weight in their crew to good advantage and score two race wins.  TBS has a bit less weight but sailed well to keep the pressure on and score two 2nds.  Runaway has even less weight again but showed a well-sailed boat will still get good results.  Despite a quick swim they managed two 3rds. SFC Computers loves a breeze & was again fast at the front of the fleet at times, but lost a place or two when caught out in holes or by wind shifts.  Regardless they still scored two 4ths.  Black Diamond & Under Pressure 2 both sailed well but didn’t get the results of yesterday.  They each scored a 5th & a 6th.  Bob & crew are still trying to tune their rig; Brian admitted his boat & crew just didn’t click today.  A quick swim freshened them up.
Battleship broke a jib pulley in the first race for a DNF but returned for the second race to finish 7th.  Michael, Beano & Chris are still tuning their rig so expect them to improve.  As to is Red Fish Café, the stronger breeze suiting Alex, Peter & Andrew so much that they easily won race 5 on handicap. Both the scratch & handicap series are far from decided; the handicap series is especially close.  For example the gaps between finishers in race six were mostly less that 20 seconds with a couple of boats only separated by 2 and 6 seconds.  That’s less than a bad tack or gybe.  This series will go down to the wire…