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Ready. Set… In just a few weeks sailing season 2018/19 will be GO! Tim has been doing a great job getting crews to make their boats ready – now it’s time to get some enthusiasm so everyone wants to sail their boats. So I’ll give you some info, gossip and anything else I think of that might get you wanting to be at that next VS regatta. Firstly the association regatta dates have been decided. Get these in your diaries (or phones) now!
As for the regatta program you’ll notice a couple of changes. Hawkesbury have shifted their weekend to March rather than in the hectic lead up to Christmas. Boats travelling to Hawkesbury have been down in recent seasons so let’s make a good effort this season to have a big turnout. Hawkesbury are building a new al fresco area onto the clubhouse so it will be worth the trip just to see what they have done. Also worth travelling to is Vaucluse. Not long after they hosted us for our 70th anniversary and states the club was destroyed by a storm. It was pretty well closed for a season or two whilst being rebuilt. We missed last year’s regatta due to a teething trouble with a new committee but now all is organised & the team at VYC are eager to see us return. Their official regatta date clashes with Sunshine, so we have negotiated the pre-Christmas date to balance our season. Once again I’d ask that all sailors do their best to sail on the day so we get a good turnout. The experience of sailing on the harbour is unique, the clubhouse is unique and the VYC hospitality is legendary. Few clubs support small fleet regattas so let’s use it before we lose it! Now for some of the chatter I’ve heard about the fleet. Firstly it looks like we’ll be welcoming Dev back into the fleet. He’s been sniffing around for the past year or so picking up guest rides but I’m told he’s joining Mick T & Gabe on 2226 for the season. Everyone knows I think this is the fastest hull in the fleet so it won’t surprise me at all to see this team win a few races once Gabe gets more familiar with the boat. Don’t forget how well Robbie has progressed… Speaking of Robbie, he is still sailing with Mark on Meeks, and they will be joined by Geoff Jakins on the tiller. No problems here so they should continue to be at the sharp end of the fleet. Likewise SFC will be there again, with Jeremy, Tom & Hugh teaming up once again and looking to go continue to win big races. Also keeping their crews unchanged is TBS – Col, Adam & Janine; Raptor – Joe, Mitch & Kye; Devocean – Roger, Nick & Will; PBB – Paul, Kev & Max. Without the need to develop new teamwork, all of these crews will be ready to pick up where they left off, or better! So now to the other changes. The big news is 2222 Planet Beer has been retired and is replaced by 2215 Action Images. Also stepping aside is VS legend Michael Northam, who we will hopefully see as a fill in skipper throughout the season. But fear not this boat will still be the fun ship. Brad is still there, joined by Ben Ferguson on tiller & Chris Bradford up front. I am already smiling. Also smiling will be Steve & Mick on Runaway, who look to have signed Dom up as fore’hand for the season. As I said above a regular crew is ½ the battle. Tim & Scott are also welcoming Lennon Sullivan as their new front man on Stowe. Lennon is already a good young sailor but, knowing Tim’s history of nurturing young sailors, will likely become as good as the SFC crew in a few years. Kirra has not been punted either, but has just stepped back a bit and will be available as a fill in from time to time. The crews on the remaining Teralba boats are not so clear. Dom on Battleship will be a father again this season so is unsure how committed he can be with family duties calling. Hopefully we’ll see the grey boat in the fleet more often than not. As for Firestorm, Dale & Ryan will be on board but are still looking at options to fill in for me when I’m away. Obviously they won’t get someone that looks as good… Of the Hawkesbury fleet I’ve heard a few whispers. Jock, on Measurement Solutions, is back for another season and is looking for some 2nd hand sails to improve his boat. If anyone has some that you want to offload let me know. Also back again is Alex on Purple Haze. I hope Andrew & Rob are back on board, as they have been developing well as a crew. Brian has Narwahl ready to go again, but his nephews have got jobs, so he is short- handed. Chris and Greg (and Troy) have continued to work on Incognito throughout the off season so much so that I’m told it looks a totally different boat. Can’t wait to see it. Unfortunately Will is off doing his HSC (suppose it will pay off later in life..) so they are also short- handed. So there was some talk Brian could jump on board Incognito. But to add another option the Sheldon brothers (you might remember them – they sailed with their dad on Measurement Solutions before Jock bought it) have finished their hiatus and are keen to get back on a VS. The music hasn’t stopped yet… And of course Black Diamond is out there somewhere too. I’m sure Chook & Hayden will have been tweaking again so the boat should be even better. Hopefully Adam will be in the team again & these guys continue where they left off last season – fighting at the front of the fleet. Good competition makes for fun racing. The result of all of the changes should be known at the first regatta. Another great reason to make the effort to get there. Don’t forget Saturday November 17 at Vaucluse. See you then Cheers John o edit. |
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