CYAA 2017 Winter Series Race 5 Rescheduled August 6

Conducted by the Hobsons Bay Yacht Club

Post race comments

Aug 8 2017

Race 5 Results

The Race 5 results and the Marie Louise III consistency aggregate status can be seen by clicking on the relevant links.The Series Aggregate status is under review. The close corrected times results of the Winter Series have highlighted adecimal point rounding difference issue between the Top Yacht and your handicappers corrected time calculations.The RYCV Race officer is set to discuss the issue with the Top Yacht administrators. The handicapper will decidewhose results will be used.

Race/no race decision

The Saturday evening forecast of gale conditions on PortPhillip for Sunday indicted a no race decision would have tobe made. Analysis of the hour by hour wind conditionsforecast for Sunday indicated a drop in gale wind strengthwould begin around 2:00am with decent wind around10:00am. The SMS status message to skippers indicated therace would not happen if the gale warning was put out onSaturday evening with a final decision at 6:30am. As expectedno gale warning, only a strong wind warning. At 10:30am thelatest forecast for Port Phillip dropped all wind warnings.Even so the wind wasn’t giving up, several 27 knot cold rainand hail fronts were experienced by all crews when roundingMark R2.

The start

The race committee signalled course 3 was the course. A start line with a decent wind set and length saw a clean startthe fleet of 9 begin their long beat up to Mark R4. The pin end was perceived to be favoured end but trying to pass thefleet on port undid all these favoured end perceptions.

On the way to Mark R4

A tricky beat with a short westerly shift was the post race story. Not tricky for Kingurra as she picked the wind shiftto lead the fleet around R4. While hanging on to the initial starboard tack paid off in the previous race, Mercedes IIIand Frances were on the receiving end of some small but decisive knocks. Further down the fleet the TumlarenEttrick picked the middle of the course and also did well on this beat. Bungoona was racing to her windward limit tohold on the Tumlaren Avian. Serifa and Martini well also sailing well to hand on to Bungoona. Manuka was also ather waterline limit on this beat.

Down to RMYS D Mark

The thought on this run was, it’s too shy so no kites. Not so, said Ettrick, so for a minute or so after passing StationPier, a hard to control blue and white kite was seen by the race committee. No more than a minute though. Martinilooked impressive as she moved ahead of Bungoona for a short time. Then it was prepare for the kite set time beforereaching the turning mark. A drop in wind strength didn’t help Manuka cause on this leg.

Kingurra picked the shifts

Manuka’s struggle to crossthe finish line

Although the race conditions don’t line up with thetime line they are indicative of race area conditions

Race/no racedecision time

Across to R2 Mark

A fast kite set on Frances saw turn her heat up in the race to catch Kingurra. Decision here was what track to take.Stay high to cover a westerly shift or a direct run. Post race report from Frances indicates Kingurra although pickedup she kept her substantial lead. Mercedes III followed Kingurra’s track which allowed Frances to improve her leadover Mercedes III. Ettrick meanwhile was taking advantage of the increase in wind strength to move away fromAvian. Serifa, Martini and Bungoona were still in touch with each other while furtherback Manuka, still in poorwind till past the St. Kilda breakwater went to waterline speed with the increase in wind strength and began making upground on the fleet.

While Kingurra did an early kite drop before R2 Frances hung on for a clean mark rounding drop. The move tobring her closer to Kingurra paid off. Kingurra countered with a larger head sail.

Martini poled out in preparation for the 27 knot wet front, chasing Avian and Ettrick. In the distance are Mercedes III and Frances.Kingurra is a dot between Avian and Ettrick

Mercedes III with kite flying chases Kingurra into the approaching wet front

Cracked sheets to the finish

At the rounding of the R2 mark thefleet encountered a variety ofconditions. Wind shifts, rain and hailwere on the menu. So much for therace committee setting the start finishline to give a last leg beat. The windshift to the west wasn’t in theirplanning to harden up the Classic fleet.

After re-appearing from the mess ofthe rain and hail front, the track ofKingurra and Frances indicated atack to the finish. But as one they bothwent up with the westerly shift.Mercedes III was back enough to saildirect to the finish line in the westerlyshift after their R2 rounding

The sail silhouette of Ettrick from therain appeared finally appeared to therace committee and then Avian. Therace the finish between Serifa,Bungoona and Martini after theirclose in company rounding was on.All three finished at water line speedin fine style. Serifa with MichaelMcTavish on the helm and fresh fromhis Clipper round the world trainingheld off Bungoona by 35 seconds.Martini was not far behind. Anotherrace where Martini performed aboveher allocated handicap when the windis at 25 knots.

Let’s not forget Manuka. Rere (Thisbird shall fly) On the last run, her R2distance time rounding compared toher finish line crossing with these threeClassic’s dropped significantly.However the last 10 yards to the linewere a gruelling non event for her. Nowind. What can you say.

Avian gives an ahoy and cheerio to the race

Serifa leads Bungoona and Martini home. Note the shifting wind direction

Bungoona pips a hard charging Martini at the finish line

Big cheer as Manuka Rere, in fine flying style, blitzes the finish line. A race committee thankyou radio call from Manuka Rere was received and acknowledged.

Congratulations to the Race 5 fleet

So congratulations to the Race 5 fleet. All starters put in a hard fought race in marginal Classic Yacht racingconditions.

Line and corrected time honours

After working his crew hard throughout the race to keep ahead of Frances and Mercedes III, Ian McFarlane boughtKingurra home for line honours. Ettrick again showed why Tumlarens are still considered the top boat for PortPhillip in all conditions. With the best start and then non stop work by Gordon Tait and Dave Brodziak. Ettrick tookout her well deserved corrected time honours. Let not forget the corrected time for the entire Race 5 fleet. Once againonly fractions of seconds split the corrected time placing across the fleet.

Sailor of the day and future face of theClassic’s

Normally your handicapper considers which Classic Yachtput in an exceptional performance to be nominated as the sailof the day. With out doubt the Laurent Giles Trekka classManuka Rere (This bird shall fly) whose elapsed time andthird on corrected time performance in the Race 5 conditionswould be a shoe in. .

Not so today.

That performance yard stick was overtaken by theperformance of one of Manuke’s two crew . Lulu DumergueSmith.

During Race 5 we had the opportunity to see who was up totaking on and thriving in the sea conditions that was thrownup. Lulu, a 10 year old experienced skipper, who races withthe HBYC Junior fleet in Puffin Pacers, showed to everyonewhat it takes to keep Manuke Rere going when theconditions are tough. Her dad, Cam Smith reports, “It wasmore than testing at times for her, however you could seethe sense of achievement when it was all over!”. It’s hardwork and gumption that keeps Manuka Rere, with her 19’waterline, competitive in the Classic fleet. All that was shownby Lulu as she stared down the Race 5 sea conditions.

Ettrick with two up, approaches the finish line for corrected time honours The dot on the horizon, aka Kingurratakes the line honours gun

Lulu on the helm of Manuka Rere excuting pre race manoeuvres

HBYC and RYCV support for Race 5

Several complementary after race comments on the conduct of the race and the course selection were received. A noteof thanks was sent off to the HBYC race director informing of these comments.

The Classic also made their thanks known to David Leroy, Principal RYCV Race Officer for the Race 5 resultsproduction and for his on water support during the conduct of Race 5.

CYAA News

2017 Cup Regatta

More ground breaking news. Indications are that two of Terry Grundy’s Dragons form Metung will be competing inthis years Cup Regatta. Jennifer AUS 136 and Sea Joy VI AUS 162. Siena has indicated she’ll be competingas well. This is all big news and has set up the 2017 Cup Regatta as a must do event.

Here’s some details and images of both Terry Grundy’s Dragons

Jennifer was built in 1968 by Masters & Cavill, Brisbane, for John Cuneo. The hull is Honduras Mahogany.The boat sailed in the Dragon Worlds in Majorca by John (came second) and John told me that he replacedJennifer with Wyuna which he then sailed in the 1972 Olympic Games when he won the gold medal.Jennifer was subsequently sailed successfully by Carl Ryves at RSYS

Sea Joy VI was built by Alan Jarman also from Honduras Mahogany and is in beautiful condition. Sea JoyVI was raced at the most recent Prince Phillip Cup (PPC) at RSYS by Terry Grundy.

ANMM Exhibition and Classic and Wooden Boat Festival.

A note was recently received from the Australian National Maritime Museum with information about two events theyare conducting.

Escape for Pompeii: The Untold Roman rescue. This exhibition closes on Sept 3.

The Classic and Wooden Boat Festival This event takes place 13-15 April 2018 at the ANMM. Expression of interestin entering this festival closes 17 Nov 2017

Eight Metre World Championship. Norway

This event begins August 10 at Hanko, Norway. Our CYAA rep Phil Brown is on hand as part of the Varg team.

This is the first 8 metre event that Varg is competing in. Phil will be providing in depth stories and photo’s on theperformance of Varg. His reports will be published on a special CYAA web site page. The story of Varg and her re-birth featured in two CYAA Magazines. December 2013 and June 2014.

Paynesville Maritime Museum.

For those who want to be up to date with all things happening at Rob Cook’s Paynesville Maritime Museum have alook at their latest E-bulletin

Manuka ReRe story

For those who want to know more about Manuka Rere and the fact she is not only a pretty face take a look below

She's a Laurent Giles Columbia (Trekka)design, named Manu Ke ReRe. (This Bird Shall Fly)

Manu Ka Rere’s hull is double diagonal marine grade Kauri ply with Kauri laminated frames and stringers and wasbuilt by Alexander Boats of Browns Bay Auckland. The cabin and toe rail are teak.

She entered the water in Bayswater, Auckland 1973 originally as ‘Pumpkin’ (as per the Laurent Giles register) andwas sailed extensively by the owner David Mountford around the New Zealand coast until he had family andupgraded. Pumpkin was sold to the 3 Slark siblings who renamed her Manu Ka Rere and sailed her extensively inthe Sth Pacific in the 80’s (3rd in the 1982 Musket Cove, Malololailai to Prt Villa race) and noted here in passing inthe bio of N.Z solo sailor Richard Raea "Upon arrival in Suva, after a mid winter stormy passage, he laid eyes uponthe 21’ Laurent Giles Trekka Manu-Karere. This tiny vessel had also sailed from New Zealand through the atrociousweather experienced by Rehuata, proving that welldesigned small vessels were just as capable as thelarger ones.”

New CYAA Member

One of the most noted Admirals Cup YachtsBalandra has joined up with her sister Mercedes IIIand is now listed on the CYAA boat Register. Herowner, Jaemie Saunders, has been restoringBalandra to her original racing concours condition.More news of Balandra will follow.

No more news, for now

Regards to all. News on the decision on who’s2017 winter Series aggregate score to use will beconveyed before the Race 6. August 20.

Don’t forget this is the last race of the 2017Winter Series. Unfortunately there were twomissed races for the series. Meaning no worst score discard is available. We can only hope that Race 6weather god will look on the Classic Fleet favourably. As usual with the last race of the series arrangementthe race will be a pursuit start. A course will be selected to have the fleet home in time for a decent afterseries social knees up.

Regards to all

Peter Costolloe

CYAA (Vic) Handicapper

Balandra in the early stages of her restoration. Photo by JeffGordon Operator of the Docklands based Melbourne Show Boat.The Lady Cutler