Invitation Race Report 2017/18 VS Australian Championships

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.
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