As I Saw It (and remembered it!)

Saturday, 15 March 25

Upcoming Regatta: Etchells Brisbane Fleet Championships are this weekend 22 – 23 March

How good was that!!!!!!!!

Along with all the usual suspects who all managed to be in town and fit and healthy at the same time, we had Jeff on Blindside Bludging & Kane Sinclair in Gen XY join us making 8 boats. Dane finally got Aspen in the water for his first ever Etchells race to give us a total of 9 boats on the start line. Dane was ably supported by Brad on the helm and Scottie showing him the ropes- literally!!

After the cyclonic weather of last week, the bay and marina water was the colour of a black tea – not the most attractive it has looked, but with a forecast of 8-12 kts and clear sunny skies what more could we ask for. With so many boats and a short course, the racing was very tight and I am not going to pretend I knew who was where and when and what was happening so I make no apologies for any errors that probably follow below.

After a delayed start while the wind shifted from the SE to the NE, racing got underway in 8kts. The strong outgoing tide made short work of the starboard tack to the port lay where everyone jostled for a lane for the long beat to the top mark. Rapscallion managed to get clear off the line and crossed the fleet to have pole position up to the top mark. Meanwhile Gen XY had completely missed the starting signals and was running back downwind under kite as fleet started.

Due to the course re-alignment, the beat was shorter than usual and with the boats all fairly even in boat speed there wasn’t much separation by the time they came together at the top. Rapscallion, in clear air, had managed to open up a lead of ½ a dozen lengths. Waterloo Too tried to tack inside Aspen at the top only to have Brad shut the door leaving no option but to hit the mark. Following around right behind was The Saint, Knot Easy and Athena.

The run saw the fleet spread across the bay as they all looked for clear air. Rapscallion rounded the right gate still comfortably ahead of the chasing pack. In the melee to be next round the bottom Aspen hit the mark as they all looked to grab that controlling position.

The second beat saw Rapscallion protect the left with a loose cover on those right behind. It was nip and tuck with several close port vs starboard crosses accompanied by the usual shouting as the chasing pack fought to keep in the hunt. At the top, Waterloo Too, The Saint, Aspen and Athena were all still fighting it out for the minor positions. Gen XY by this time has nearly caught Blindside Bludging.

As the pack battled it out on the run, from memory it was Aspen on the inside at the final gate who managed to grab second followed by Waterloo Too, The Saint, Knot Easy and Athena. The Project having been dropped from the chasing pack several legs earlier were 7^th. Gen XY had a battle on the run with Blindside to bat them by a length. Due to some on water infractions both Waterloo Too and Aspen withdrew from the race giving 2^nd to The Saint with Knot Easy 3^rd.

Race 2 saw the breeze increase to 11-12 kts and move back to the right by 30 degrees. With the strong tide still pushing boats down the line Gen XY and The Project (I think it was) both ran out of room and had to bail out in the last 20 seconds while Rapscallion managed to just scrape across millimetres from the pin. Again, the left dominated and first around the top was Aspen followed by Athena. Also in the mix was Gen XY, Knot Easy and the Project. Waterloo Too, Rapscallion and Blindside bought up the rear.

The run saw the leading bunch take the right had side while Rapscallion and Waterloo Too went left. The Saint caught in the middle of the course elected to take the left hand gate behind Rapscallion and Waterloo Too. At the bottom Knot Easy who rounded the right gate in 4^th or 5^th tacked off onto port immediately in search of clear air only to find themselves close to the layline and as they progressed up the beat in the lead. With the initial leaders overlaid on the left, Rapscallion and Waterloo Too in clear air on the right closed up on the leading pack. First round for the final run home was Knot Easy followed closely by The Project and Aspen. Rapscallion was 4^th just ahead of Waterloo Too, Gen XY and Athena.

Rapscallion managed to get the leeward inside line on the run and it was soon 4 abreast as they sprinted to the finish. A wrap to the kite on The Project during a gybe saw them drop from podium contention. At they all approached the gybe mark into the finish ‘oxygen masks dropped from the ceiling’ as the chasing pack smothered Aspen and Rapscallion allowing Knot Easy who on the right in clean air extended away and crossed them by several lengths to take the gun. Rapscallion on the inside escaped first to finish 2^nd while Gen XY sailed over Aspen to grab 3^rd.  Fighting out 5^th was The Saint, Waterloo Too and Athena with the kite wrap on The Project costing them big time.

The first 8 boats all finished within 45 seconds of each other – it’s doesn’t get much closer than that!!

Unfortunately, The Saint’s and Athena’s efforts all came to nothing as they were adjudged OCS at the start.

Boat of the Day bragging rights go to Rapscallion for their 1^st and 2^nd after a day of very close and competitive racing which saw nearly every boat in the top part of the fleet at some stage. It shows just how well some of the less experienced crews have progressed over the season and we now have such competitive racing.

I note a couple of boats had 3 points added for not signing off!!!!!!

See you all this weekend for the Fleet Champs

(The author accepts no responsibilities for any inaccuracies, distortions of the truth or outright lies.)