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Everyone’s dreams fulfilled? Earlier I wrote something about Tim’s dream to sail a series at Neranie Sands was fulfilling a dream. From the smiles after the final day’s sailing I think just about everyone’s dreams were satisfied too. But first to the final days racing. Can I say it was close?
Both the scratch & handicap titles were far from decided. On scratch Firestorm was three points clear of Meeks with TBS & SFC just another two points adrift. But with ‘the big 4’ already scoring a bad race or two, and with a light, puffy northerly blowing, the title series was far from finished. Similarly the handicap title was also far from done. Black Diamond held a four-point lead from a circling pack of Planet Beer, SFC & Stowe. Just another point adrift was Devocean & Narwahl. With light, tricky conditions there was likely to be big points scored in both races so again the title was far from done. The first race of the day was started in a light breeze that kept the fleet close, with all boats looking for that elusive gust. The big 4 all managed to dig themselves out of the fleet after the first lap, with Black Diamond continuing to do as they have done all regatta and cross ahead out of nowhere. After many position changes, Firestorm held a small lead from SFC, TBS & Meeks going up the last beat to the finish. Plenty of cover tacking was the rule until Meeks decided to chance their luck & break away to the right. Great move. Mick, Mark & Robbie picked up a nice lift to surge from 4th to 1st to win the race by 2 seconds from Firestorm in 2nd, SFC just 1 second behind in 3rd, and TBS a ‘huge’ 3 seconds further back in 4th. So in six seconds the results of the regatta was changed. Now only Meeks & Firestorm was in contention. Just one gust different & it could have been between SFC & TBS. With the light breeze the fleet was compacted at the finish so the long handicappers faired well. Devocean took 1st place, from Narwahl & Raptor. Going into the final race Devocean held a 1 point lead from Stowe & Black Diamond for the overall handicap title. Race 10 was another beauty. Similar breeze; maybe slightly stronger so that crews could occasionally swing two uphill. Another closely contested start with an IR; Firestorm having to return & dip the line & Black Diamond having to circle the start boat. After a lap of changing places the big 4, along with Chook (in hindsight I should have include Chook & labelled all these boats the big 5) had made their way to the front of the fleet to race to decide the title. SFC lead TBS, Black Diamond, Meeks & Firestorm down the second run when a strengthening change appeared from the south. SFC managed it best to round the leeward marks first. TBS got caught high & had to gybe in a black’un, and unfortunately swam. Black Diamond was caught in a hole and gybed back north so also slipped back. That left Meeks & Firestorm to chase SFC. Meeks took the left leeward mark; Firestorm the right. With the breeze coming from Firestorm’s side they passed Meeks to follow SFC around the windward mark for the final time. All three blasted for the finish. All three had to drop spinnakers to make finish the finish line. Jeremy, Tom & Hugh took victory in SFC Computers to claim the Coal Board Shield & 3rd overall. With three wins, if not for a slow start to the regatta, these boys would have been even further up in the results. Firestorm hung on for 2nd, seven seconds ahead of Meeks. Black Diamond continued to pounce on any mistake the big 4 made & finished a good 4th. Stowe had a good race & finished 5th across the line, and enough to win the race on handicap from Firestorm & SFC. This spread of points was enough to ensure Tim, Scott & Kirra on Stowe were the overall handicap champions First time debutants Scott & Kirra sailed a great regatta. It may feel a long & sometimes tiring series but when you reflect on a national’s, that’s what makes them special. No one remembers a weekend regatta… SFC kept improving all regatta and finished 2nd overall on handicap, with Devocean & Black Diamond tied for 3rd. Roger, Nick & Will got the place on a count back, and earned the respect of the fleet by being only one of three to not capsize during the eleven races. Well sailed!!! Overall on scratch Firestorm, with John, Dale, Ryan, Tracey & Stephen, sailed consistently enough to win the title by three points. With Ryan on board I think we were unbeatable. But they were big shoes to fill and I think Tracey & Steve filled the vacancy admirably & kept Firestorm in the series. By the final day Steve was looking for his forward hand union ticket and deservedly joined the VS champions winners list. Thanks mate. So back to the fulfilment of dreams. Tim has wanted a national series here for years. And this year we did it. It came off perfectly. The weather was good. The courses were good. The racing was good. The PPK sponsored BBQ presentation was good. And when Tim announced SFC was sponsoring the drinks trailer, everything was good!!! Sid Peare Invitation 1st Firestorm (J Hodda, D Jacobson, R Fokes; Coal Board Shield 1st SFC Computers (J Dodds, T Wood, H Dodds) Overall Scratch 1st Firestorm (J Hodda, D Jacobson, R Fokes, T Jacobson, S Sims) 14 pts; 2nd Meeks Real Estate (M Turton, R Turton, M Nugent) 17 points; 3rd SFC Computers (J Dodds, H Dodds, T Wood) 19 points; 4th Troy Botting Shipwright (C Gillespie, A Kelly, J Turton) 24 pts; 5th Black Diamond (B Baker, H Baker, A Birkefield) 31 pts; 6th Planet Beer (M Northam, B Dodds, B Ferguson, C Bradford) 46 pts; 7th Stowe (T Dodds, S Coleman, K Coleman) 54 points; 8th Raptor (J Ferguson, M Blake, K Donaldson) 56 pts; 9th Narwahl ( B Gleeson, M Gleeson, Kallan ) 72 pts; 10th Devocean (R Devery, N Devery, W Devery 76 pts. Handicap 1st Stowe 27pts; 2nd SFC Computers 30 pts; 3rd Devocean 32 pts (count back); 4th Black Diamond 32 pts; 2nd Plan B 20 pts; 3rd Battleship 22 pts; 4th Black Diamond 27 pts; 5th Planet Beer 34pts (count back); 6th Narwahl 34 pts (count back); 7th Raptor 34pts; 8th Troy Botting Shipwright 45 pts; 9th Firestorm 48pts; 10th Meeks Real Estate 50 pts. I previously said today was moving day. And today it was. 20 knots of boat speed type of moving. With the freshest breeze of the series so far all crews had some tales after the race. But even though most boats had at least one tale of woe everyone was still smiling around the park afterwards. We have the place to ourselves, and isn’t this great?
Race 7 saw another good start for all boats. The start lines have been set well all series, which makes for good racing when everyone has room. Firestorm, Meeks, TBS & SFC all got away well and were stem to stern around the top mark. SFC & Meeks blasted off to the west whilst Firestorm & TBS gybe-set. Or at least they tried to. Firestorm pulled up a nice wineglass that saw them drop through the fleet. TBS did something similar & dropped even further back. Black Diamond were back on their game today and were mixing it with the lead bunch, as was Joe, Mitch & Kye on Raptor. Jeremy, Tom & Hugh had SFC on song again, sailed the boat with confidence and backed their instincts to cross the line 1st from Meeks in 2nd. Firestorm fought back for 3rd, closely followed by Black Diamond in 4th. Raptor were having such a good time that they overlaid the finish line by a long way, looking spectacular when they broad reached to the finish line for 5th, just ahead of TBS. But this wasn’t enough for the handicap victory. Once again this went to the ever improving, and consistent Roger, Nick & Will on Devocean. Sailing way ‘above their weight’, they won from SFC and Black Diamond in 3rd. Race 8 started in a similar breeze but it kept building. The usual suspects were line astern around the top mark for the first time but from here it slowly became a race of attrition. Firestorm went west down the run, picked a huge line, survived the gybe and rounded the leeward marks with a nice lead. They worked west again, picked another nice line & were looking good until a swim on a tack pushed them back to the pack. SFC, TBS, Meeks & Black Diamond were all powering along until next TBS had a few issues & dropped out of the bunch. But the race was not done yet. SFC rounded the windward mark for the final time for the run to the finish with a good lead & looked set for a pair of wins until their final gybe, about 3m from the finish. They swam and frustratingly tried to wish the boat across the finish line as Meeks stormed down under spinnaker, only to see Mick, Robbie & Mark pass them & take the win. SFC recovered for 2nd, Black Diamond worked the eastern side down the final run & got through for 3rd, from Firestorm & TBS. Sets it up nicely for the final day, with Firestorm, Meeks, SFC & TBS all in contention. Once again Black Diamond had done enough to win the race on handicap, and leave them with a small lead overall going into the final day. Stowe, Planet Beer & SFC Computers are all equal second, only a few points adrift, with the consistent Devocean just another point behind, but still in the mix. With some funky weather predicted for the final day both titles could be anyone’s. Stay tuned…. Check the results pages for race times & scores. Guess what? Another day of close VS racing in a nice breeze in paradise. Tim has wanted the nationals at this venue for a long time. And now the rest of us understand why.
Another 8-12 knot NE’er saw all crews keen at the start for race 5. So much so that yet again there was an IR. Meeks, Black Diamond & Stowe were all involved (I think). Ask Chook about the story of Scott sitting on BD until they tacked! This hurt Black Diamond & Stowe a bit, but Meeks managed to get back into the fleet and catch up & mix it with Firestorm, TBS & SFC at the front of the fleet. That was until Col, Adam & Janine decided to gybe-set on a run & cleared out to a lead they would not lose. Firestorm, with yet another fore’hand (Steve Sims of Runaway fame), managed to hang on for 2nd from the young guns Jeremy, Tom & Hugh on SFC Computers in 3rd. Meeks did well to get back to 4th, but not much ahead of Michael, Brad & Ben on Planet Beer; 5th across the line and easy handicap winners. Joe, Mitch & Kye also had a better race in Raptor to be 6th across the line and 2nd on handicap. Maybe they would have been even better if they didn’t have maccas on board (as about this!). Unfortunately race 6 only had 9 starters line up, after Narwahl broke a tiller & jib in the earlier race. But yet again in a 10-15 knot NE’er the start was well contested. Yet again SFC lead around the windward mark for the first time and blasted off into the distance in what looked to be a repeat of race 4. But there was more to unfold. Tim, Scott & Kirra on Stowe were having a great race and mixing it at the front of the fleet, about third around the leeward mark for the first time, closely followed by Planet Beer. The big lifts/knocks/ holes continued throughout the race and positions swapped regularly until Mick, Robbie & Mark finally rounded the windward mark for the last time with a small lead from Firestorm, SFC & TBS. Each held their positions to the finish, albeit there was some excitement for all crews down this last run. Stowe hung on for 5th across the line to easily win on corrected time from Planet Beer. Still four races to go so both titles are anybodies. Firestorm, TBS, Meeks & SFC are all within a few points on scratch. Stowe, Planet Beer & Black Diamond are in a similar position on handicap. But tomorrow is the moving day… Check the results pages for race times & scores. Cheers John I could only describe today as a day of extreme highs & lows. First off the fleet was rocked when Ryan took a turn and hit the floor, ending with a ride in an ambulance to Taree. I know I speak for all of the VS ‘family’ in wishing him a speedy recovery. Hope you’re back to normal and sailing soon mate!
With everyone thinking of Ryan the fleet considered cancelling sailing for the day but realised worrying on the bank would achieve nothing. Tracey borrowed some sailing gear off just about everyone to fill in up front on Firestorm & test the strength of her marriage to Dale. Another light breeze saw the fleet hotly contest the start of race 3. In fact some were too eager. A second sound signal & IR flag saw firstly TBS then Meeks head back to dip the line. Michael, Brad & Ben got away well on Planet Beer, as did SFC, Firestorm & Black Diamond. With the course set on the weedy side of the headland most boats went right. Firestorm were looking to minimise tacks so hung on to the left, picked up a big lift when they came back & grabbed a nice lead they would hold to the finish. Black Diamond, SFC & Planet Beer continued to have a close battle throughout the race, becoming more exciting when TBS & Meeks made their charges back through the fleet. In the end Mick, Mark & Robbie on Meeks made a successful comeback to finish 2nd, TBS also got through for 3rd, just in front of Black Diamond, SFC & Planet Beer. But with a good start and good sailing Planet Beer had done enough to win on handicap, from Black Diamond & Narwahl 3rd. Further down it was close on handicap, with many places separated by seconds! Race 4 was sailed in a similar breeze but the racing was different. Jeremy, Tom & Hugh on SFC Computers again made a good start & were with Firestorm around the windward mark for the first time. SFC set the kite and went west, whereas Firestorm gybed & hugged the eastern shore. They got no wind, they got weed & they got smashed. In contrast the SFC boys sailed exceptionally all race. From where I could see way behind, they didn’t choose a side of the course – they just stayed in the breeze and picked the lifts & knocks perfectly. A great display resulting in an easy win. Similarly Chook, Hayden & Adam did their own thing on Black Diamond and also had a great result, finishing 2nd across the line. TBS finished a good 3rd, but also suffered from the weed. Firestorm snuck home 4th after Meeks also fell foul to the weed down the final run. SFC almost pulled off the double on handicap but could only manage 2nd, pipped by Brian, Kallun & Max on Narwahl. They also sailed a good race, also using the western side of the course without fear. Joe, Mitch & Kye on Raptor have had a quiet regatta so far (results wise only) but are tuning a new mainsail and are improving, enough in this race to get 3rd on corrected time. So after a terrible start to the day we all parted for a lay day on a high after that last race. And, despite some yelling & cursing, Dale & Tracey are still married. Check the results pages for race times & scores. Cheers John Another day in paradise! After a cool night crews were welcomed by another refreshing NE’er for the first day of championship racing. I doubt many other places in NSW had a cool sea breeze today…
First up, the results for the Invitation race were confirmed. After a misunderstanding over the course that saw the leaders sail past the finish line, Firestorm ended up 1st, closely followed by Devocean and Meeks Real Estate. Tim showed his experience when, aiming for an upwind finish, he quickly corrected & finished downwind to claim 4th place. So after another go at briefing the courses all crews were raring to go. With a gentle breeze the start of the first race was hotly contested. All crews pushed hard but the starter declared a clear start & the fleet got away in an 8-12 knot NE’er. John, Dale & Ryan on Firestorm made a good start, picked some nice lifts & pressure lines to round the top mark with a handy lead that they would not surrender. Mick, Brad & Ben were next around on Planet Beer, closely followed by Troy Botting Shipwright & Meeks. Jeremy, Tom & Hugh on SFC Computers were next, having a close battle with Chook, Hayden & Adam on Black Diamond with the rest of the fleet close behind. At the finish Firestorm lead TBS home, with Meeks just getting the better of Planet Beer after a tight tussle around the course. SFC finished 5th, winning their battle with Black Diamond by 2 seconds! On handicap Roger, Nick & Will on Devoceaan sailed a great race to finish just behind Raptor across the line to claim their maiden handicap victory at a nationals. Shows yesterday’s invitation result was no fluke. 2nd was Brian, Max & Kallan on Narwahl, with Planet Beer converting their strong scratch result into 3rd on corrected time. Race 2 started in a nice breeze that was again fiercely contested. This time the boats that went left, looking for the that were there in the first race (Firestorm, Meeks etc) were hammered. SFC were looking good after making a good start & getting right – until Black Diamond came from further right to round the top mark with a nice lead. Not far behind them was Devocean, proving that their previous results were no fluke. Firestorm was close behind, as was SFC. From here the race became difficult, with the breeze dying and fluctuating in direction regularly. Most skippers I talked to after the race spoke of their frustration of sailing a knocking work. After Firestorm wore down Black Diamond, Col, Adam & Janine on TBS did likewise to both boats, opened up a lead & looked unstoppable. Then the breeze changed yet again, as did the lead. Firestorm snuck around the top mark with a small lead for the final run to the finish that they would hold, narrowly taking the honours from TBS. Mick, Robbie & Mark looked to have risen from the ashes after rounding the first mark in last place but Black Diamond continued their good form to hold them off for a great 3rd across the line. Not much further back there were some more great battles underway. Next home was the TD sub-fleet boats, SFC taking the bragging honours from Stowe, Raptor & Planet Beer. Roger & the boys claimed another scalp, beating Narwahl home on scratch, but this was not enough to claim the handicap victory – this belonged to Black Diamond. For two days now they have lead the fleet more than once. Well sailed! Check the results pages for race times & scores. Cheers John tra73! That’s how many times the Vee Ess nationals have been contested. Not many classes can boast that. You may think it would be repetitive after so many years but this season we’ve again stepped it up a notch.
For years Tim has mulled over the idea of sailing a nationals on the Myall Lakes at Neranie Sands. So after numerous good championships at our traditional venues it was time to make the leap. And so far it has been just like Tim’s dreams (the all ages dream that is). Fresh, clean, flat, uncrowded water and nice, constant sea breezes (yep, even when the rest of the state is sweltering); this place is great. Missing a few regulars (Runaway & Incognito to name a couple) we still have 10 boats competing. Shame because these crews missed another new idea. The Sid Peare Invitation Race had a new format. As in recent years the trophy was awarded on the handicap result of the race, but for this year the handicaps were given by sailing around different windward marks. The lower your handicap the more times you had to sail around the farthest windward mark. And those that could sail the shorter course on some laps could decide themselves when to use their ‘joker’. Great concept, and if not for one problem right at the end of the race, it would have been the perfect invitation race (for most). .Jeremy, Hugh & Chris on SFC Computers didn’t make the start after rigging the kite inside every stay wire they could find. So nine skiffs lined up for a start in a perfect 10 – 12 knot NE’er. All boats got away well & tested whether left or right was the winner. Firestorm looked to be first up the first work until Chook, Hayden & Adam on Black Diamond played their first joker – they took the short course option, cleared the fleet and blasted into the distance. Roger, Nick & Will on Devocean also benefitted from the shorter works & kept jumping up the places to keep in contention. Firestorm chased Black Diamond hard for two laps but, even on the same course, could make up little ground. Chook & the boys were sailing perfectly. Going the right way, fast! Also sailing well and making the best of their jokers were Mick, Brad & Ben on Planet Beer; Brian, Callum & Max on Narwahl; and Tim, Kirra & Scott on Stowe. Down the final run it looked as though Chook was unbeatable. But, unfortunately, there was one problem. There was a misunderstanding of the course. Those that were leading wanted the day to never end and sailed toward the leeward marks. But Firestorm, Devocean & Meeks sailed across the finish line downwind & received hooters. Official results are yet to be received but in the end the day was a success. We tested courses, the new handicap system, and we kept cool sailing in a nice Ne’er on flat water when the rest of the state was sweltering. Whatever the result, Tim’s dream was fulfilled. ditional venues it was time to make the leap. And so far it has been just like Tim’s dreams (the all ages dream that is). Fresh, clean, flat, uncrowded water and nice, constant sea breezes (yep, even when the rest of the state is sweltering); this place is great. Missing a few regulars (Runaway & Incognito to name a couple) we still have 10 boats competing. Shame because these crews missed another new idea. The Sid Peare Invitation Race had a new format. As in recent years the trophy was awarded on the handicap result of the race, but for this year the handicaps were given by sailing around different windward marks. The lower your handicap the more times you had to sail around the farthest windward mark. And those that could sail the shorter course on some laps could decide themselves when to use their ‘joker’. Great concept, and if not for one problem right at the end of the race, it would have been the perfect invitation race (for most). .Jeremy, Hugh & Chris on SFC Computers didn’t make the start after rigging the kite inside every stay wire they could find. So nine skiffs lined up for a start in a perfect 10 – 12 knot NE’er. All boats got away well & tested whether left or right was the winner. Firestorm looked to be first up the first work until Chook, Hayden & Adam on Black Diamond played their first joker – they took the short course option, cleared the fleet and blasted into the distance. Roger, Nick & Will on Devocean also benefitted from the shorter works & kept jumping up the places to keep in contention. Firestorm chased Black Diamond hard for two laps but, even on the same course, could make up little ground. Chook & the boys were sailing perfectly. Going the right way, fast! Also sailing well and making the best of their jokers were Mick, Brad & Ben on Planet Beer; Brian, Callum & Max on Narwahl; and Tim, Kirra & Scott on Stowe. Down the final run it looked as though Chook was unbeatable. But, unfortunately, there was one problem. There was a misunderstanding of the course. Those that were leading wanted the day to never end and sailed toward the leeward marks. But Firestorm, Devocean & Meeks sailed across the finish line downwind & received hooters. Official results are yet to be received but in the end the day was a success. We tested courses, the new handicap system, and we kept cool sailing in a nice Ne’er on flat water when the rest of the state was sweltering. Whatever the result, Tim’s dream was fulfilled. For years Tim has mulled over the idea of sailing a nationals on the Myall Lakes at Neranie Sands. So after numerous good championships at our traditional venues it was time to make the leap. And so far it has been just like Tim’s dreams (the all ages dream that is). Fresh, clean, flat, uncrowded water and nice, constant sea breezes (yep, even when the rest of the state is sweltering); this place is great. Missing a few regulars (Runaway & Incognito to name a couple) we still have 10 boats competing. Shame because these crews missed another new idea. The Sid Peare Invitation Race had a new format. As in recent years the trophy was awarded on the handicap result of the race, but for this year the handicaps were given by sailing around different windward marks. The lower your handicap the more times you had to sail around the farthest windward mark. And those that could sail the shorter course on some laps could decide themselves when to use their ‘joker’. Great concept, and if not for one problem right at the end of the race, it would have been the perfect invitation race (for most). .Jeremy, Hugh & Chris on SFC Computers didn’t make the start after rigging the kite inside every stay wire they could find. So nine skiffs lined up for a start in a perfect 10 – 12 knot NE’er. All boats got away well & tested whether left or right was the winner. Firestorm looked to be first up the first work until Chook, Hayden & Adam on Black Diamond played their first joker – they took the short course option, cleared the fleet and blasted into the distance. Roger, Nick & Will on Devocean also benefitted from the shorter works & kept jumping up the places to keep in contention. Firestorm chased Black Diamond hard for two laps but, even on the same course, could make up little ground. Chook & the boys were sailing perfectly. Going the right way, fast! Also sailing well and making the best of their jokers were Mick, Brad & Ben on Planet Beer; Brian, Callum & Max on Narwahl; and Tim, Kirra & Scott on Stowe. Down the final run it looked as though Chook was unbeatable. But, unfortunately, there was one problem. There was a misunderstanding of the course. Those that were leading wanted the day to never end and sailed toward the leeward marks. But Firestorm, Devocean & Meeks sailed across the finish line downwind & received hooters. Official results are yet to be received but in the end the day was a success. We tested courses, the new handicap system, and we kept cool sailing in a nice Ne’er on flat water when the rest of the state was sweltering. Whatever the result, Tim’s dream was fulfilled. to edit. |
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