Hi Everyone , With the John Murphy Invitational Mid Winter Cup successfully completed last weekend it will be back to our standard Sunday classes next Sunday followed by Sunday afternoon racing .
Mid Winter Cup ;
Fleet numbers were down on last year especially in the green fleet with only a couple of laser 4.7 and an Opti registering for the event but at least they managed to get a taste of what racing is all about . The open fleet however had a big contingent of both laser 4.7s and radials and also Open Bics with a 420 also showing up on Sunday just for the practice .
Every year the annual Midwinter Cup presents its own challenges in making sure the event is always a success, last year was a lack of wind over the two days and this year was looking the same with race one of the five race calendar starting with 2/4 knots then virtually dropping off to zero . Luckily the afternoon races did have around 3/5 knots so that not only could we get the open fleet around the course but we could also give the green fleet sailors something to sail too . The racing was close throughout the fleets on Saturday with everyone trying to get that edge on everyone else which in some cases succeeded and in others just didnt make it but thats what sailing is all about .
Sunday started with no wind again so as in the day before racing was postponed while we waited for the southerly to creep up the coast which finally popped in around 10.30 so with a bit of a mad panic it was off to the start line which we set down at our canal . Greg and I set a good upwind followed by a complete triangle just to give everyone a challenge . Start one was hotly contested especially down at the pin end but blowing away the whole fleet was Torin who took the chance and started on port and cleared the whole fleet , we thought on the start boat that he wouldnt make it but with that extra bit of pressure in front of the fleet he proved us wrong . Race two was a whole different ball game with the wind now around 8/12 knots the startline became very busy with a few minor collissions but nothing serious . As everyone started to line up for their start to the last race and the one minute flag down I asked my crew for the general recall flag because I knew that we were going to need it ! yes everyone forgot the outgoing tide which resulted in two general recalls and then prior to the start the third time Andrew and I spent the last two minutes waving everyone back allowing a clear start .
Our own club sailors represented their club well in all divisions and from what I could see all of them improved their sailing techniques over the two days .
There was one very funny incident in the last race which had Andrew and I in stitches when we heard this little voice at the start line yelling out for everyone to get out off the way who was it it was our only Opti sailor Teegan who is nine telling all the lasers to get out of her way and you know what they did which made Andrew and I laugh even more , well done Teegan .
Acknowledgements ;
Fiirstly thank you to our sponsors ; Bendigo Bank , Ronstan , Performance Sailcraft Australia and Hungry Jacks for your support in this Event . Secondly we would like to Thank Australian Sailing , Queensland Yachting for their support of this event and also Paradise Point Bowls Club for supplying the fun on Saturday night and also a great meal .
Our thanks also go out to Member for Broadwater Mr David Crissafulli for kindly presenting all the prizes on Sunday .
Finally to both the staff from Bendigo Bank who volunteered their time over the weekend and most of all to all our club volunteers who unselfishly donated their time to make it a truly awesome event .
CU on the water
John Murphy
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