Brief Race Report
TERALBA: Saturday 19/11/16       SSE 15knots small choppy conditions.       Port course.


Another good turnout of 8 skiffs after last week's testing NW breeze.
Saturdays SE condition ideal for VS's to contest the 3rd heat of the Club Championship.
Good to see the return of some old hands & new young talent. Steve getting Range on the water with Geoff Jakins up front & the "Devonator" aka Rod Devon in the middle. Michael Northam back from the Bahama's driving Stowe with Brad Dodds in the middle & Ryan Fokes up front with a borrowed boom from Tim, after last week's head-butt incident. TBS assisted very capably in the bow by Mitch Blake off Raptor for the day.
A tight start at the boat end saw Meeks locked out & tacking back for a restart. Firestorm lead the hard charging pack out on starboard & was never headed, driving a significant margin in the first downwind leg from Meeks who recovered after a spectacular come back 1st work from last across the start now in 2nd. TBS & Range had some close racing changing leads several times and eventually closing the gap on the two leaders that ended in a compact finish at the club with Meeks 2nd, TBS 3rd, Range 4th. Stowe stayed close to the leaders for most of the race but drop back a bit after a crew overboard incident but hung on to 5th. Devocean, Banana Spares & PBB all retiring to the club. PBB suffering a broken mast after a head bolt holding the back stays let go.
With Raptor, SFC & Plan B in the shed next weeks Regatta looks good for 11 club starters to be joined by 3 Hawkesbury travellers.
Col
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  Teralba has had 7 to 8 starters over the last 4 races. Last Saturday handicap start included “Firestorm” (off scr) with same old crew John, Dale & Lindsay. “TBS” with regular crew Col, Adam and Janene. “Raptor” guest steered by Steve Sims and crewed by new VS’er Joe Ferguson and Mitch from “PlanB” last year. “Raptor” also sporting a new main.  “Plan B” with Tim at helm and new crew, father and daughter combo Scott and Kirra. “Banana Spare Parts”, this is old Longwall with all new gear skippered by Mick Fairburn and Lyndon from “PlanB” last year on sheet. “Devocean”, old IFS with new gear and a show room paint job. “Stowe” crewed by Ryan Fokes and Brad Dodds……..yep Brad’s back!!!  “SFC Computers” with a new main and the same young guns from last year, Jeremy, Tom and Hugh.

We still have “Range” & “PBB” to add to these regular starters.
Saturday saw very fresh gusty NW 18knts + winds.
Hard upwind with sensational rides downhill on the flat water (no tide to kick up a chop on Warners Bay).  4 DNF’s pretty hectic day. One of the casualties was Stowe with a broken carbon boom after Brad managed to head butt it clean in half………don’t mess with Brad!!!
If we can get 3 of the 4 Hawkesbury boats & Black Diamond turns up, we could see 12+ skiffs racing on Teralba Regatta Day.
If anyone is close to Brian can they give him a rev up. He’d enjoy the competition & could be a wild car podium place.
Col
 
Hawkersbury
Saturday we had all 4 x  boats out. I think it is only us coming to Teralbe as a full crew, I am trying to get the other guys organised to get one of their boats up even with a mixed crew. Here is our race report:
 
Race one was a tricky 3-15 knot westerly. “Under Pressure Too” had a disaster start was a leg behind and sailed through the fleet to lead at the last mark. “Measurement Solutions” with their new kite were having a great race out front until the last mark. The last work to the finish was tight with about 10 seconds between them, “Battleship” and “Measurement Solutions”. “Under Pressure Too” decided to check the water temperature about 50 metres from the finish line to let “Measurement Solutions” take a victory.
 
Race two the breeze kicked in from the west even more (12-18 knots). “Battleship” led with “Purple Haze” and “Measurement Solutions” right on their stern. The first run was too much fun for “Measurement Solutions” and “Purple Haze” missing the gybe layline having to drop kites for the mark. “Under Pressure Too” was out the back again - who then proceeded to sail through the fleet over the next two laps and got into second behind “Battleship”. They double checked the water temperature for a very long time and let “Purple Haze” through in second behind “Battleship”.
Alex