8.30 am Sunday Juniors ;
Well with the temperature close to single digits we are only getting a few takers for the early class but the boys are really keen to get their boats rigged especially Tristan and Harvey who both seem to have improved in their sailing since the mid winter cup and are now starting to hike out in their Bics and generally sail much better so all that sailing over two days must have helped .even though some of the sailing was just drifting!. Reece alex and aidan are also improving with with them now sailing around the reaching course and getting closer to the marks . Finally it has been decided that Tristan should have his own nickname and you guessed it its captain capsize because he accidentally ? capsizes every session well at least he is enjoying his sailing.
10.30 Youth Training :
Well this group has had a busy couple of weeks with midwinter cup and manly youth week where everyone put all that training to the test from sailing in virtually no wind to good winds at manly on the second day .Each time these boys and girls hit the water they are introduced to even more sailing skills and its starting to show in their on water efforts . Our midwinter cup fleet was relatively small buy previous years but they all got to sail in much bigger groups at Manly where starts were critical especially in the light conditions but from what I hear everyone really enjoyed sailing against other lasers who they will probably see at yepoon in october . Our lone representative in the Bic Skiff Jade absolutely excelled herself getting second in female and third overall and although the fleet was small by previous years due to covid 19 restrictions she competed against two top line sailors in Jonah and Addy and really showed her skills.
1.30 pm Open Racing ;
With our youth sailors away at manly on the 4th of july it was up to the adults to fly the flag with ten boats lining up for the start . Conditions were good with winds from the s/s/e at around 10/15 knots and with a start at the canal then a down at runners then a run up to the top of ephriam to round out the abc Ben Oneill was soon in the lead and absolutely flying with Peter behind him and Matt scooting along in third yes Matt ? as he was absolutely flying along in a borrowed boay ( mine ) . Unfortunately for Ben you guessed it he capsized in a gust at the top of ephriam and stuck the mast in the mud so by the time he got it up he was nearly last and decided to retire but boy he was flying earlier . Matts son Felix got the capsize record which we think was ten but we did loose count but by the tenth he was shot so Charlie jumped on board and sailed his boat home . John B and Adrian also pulled out as the conditions got stronger so we ended up with 6 boats over the line including Matt who actually drifted over in reverse having done a 360 penalty right at the finish and stalled the boat so he just drifted backwards over the line four fourth right behind Greg . Last Sunday as there was only three turned up for racing we decided to cancel and the guys including Jade ,and Daniel just went out for some practice in around 12/15 knots with the occassional gust as Jade found out on a couple of the upwinds ending up with a couple of swims but she kept on going until she just got too cold and even Dan said it was cold and he normally doesnt feel it !
CU on the water
J Murphy