2012 TWOFOLD BAY YACHT CLUB REGATTA

Eden Turns it on for Regatta

After a flurry of last minute arrangements the Twofold Bay Yacht Club were ready for the 38^th Annual Regatta last weekend.  We didn’t know how many we’d have as most sailors turn up and register on the day.  Forty boats arrived with various numbers of crew and over a hundred people came into the town.  It was a mixed weather forecast but most importantly the wind looked right and people came.

There were registrations to do, signing on then a quick briefing from Peter Smith who stood in as starter after Roger Matthews became unavailable through illness.  The aim was to get the first race underway by eleven am.  The wind however had other ideas and it was close to eleven thirty before a start was made.  Once underway, however the breeze was good and it stayed like that for the weekend.

There were six divisions divided into three starts for each race.  The quick catamarans were off first and sailed the outer course.  Last division to cross the start line were the trailer sailers along with ‘Livid’, an Adams 10, seen racing on the bay most weekends. In between them there were Flying Dutchman, Flying fifteens, 505’s, NS14’s, there were Lasers and Tasers, Tigers and a Competitor. The days races went off without a hitch and the stronger afternoon breeze produced some great racing.

Most of the sailors and their families gathered at the club on Saturday night for dinner put on by Womboyn Lake Fire Brigade.  It was a great night with great chat about the days racing and sailing in general. 

Sunday got off to a great start and the first race was underway after a ten am. start.  The breeze came in early and produced a stronger northerly air flow than the day before.  It wasn’t long before we were treated to some squally showers that increased the speeds attained around the bay and produced some great lighting effects over the water.

As the last race finished the rain came down in torrents and the fleet headed for the clubrooms for the results of the weekends racing and to receive prizes generously donated by local businesses. Prizes were generous and novel in some cases.  The club wishes to thank the sponsors for their generous support and assistance without which this event could not happen. We appreciate too, the work done by our own volunteers, to make it happen. We hope that the event is good for Eden.  We know that the people who come back here each year to race love coming to Eden and the racing on Twofold Bay. 

Other Links
	Yardstick Final Results
	PHC Final Results

Yachts & Navy Ships

Livid

Yachts & Navy Ships

Race 6 of the Summer series.

 As there was a Navy Ship in the bay, a course had to be set to ensure that none of the yachts received a shot over the bow for going too close to the Navy Wharf.

When the course was set, the wind was a steady 10 knot south wester which omened well for a lovely afternoon race around the bay. As is quite often the case on Twofold Bay, this wasn’t to last with a steady swing around to the south east happening just as the yachts got away, making what was supposed to be a work into the breeze towards Boydtown turn into a lovely reach with the bigger boats really being able to show their heels.

First around Boydtown was Mac Shimeld’s Ruby II, closely followed by Ted Dexter on Livid, Robin Arthur on Tiga & Chris Hopkins’s fast moving Old Habits. Graham Cross’s By Beethoven & John Tremewen’s Eagle Rock were just behind travelling well.

The next mark was the Red Reef mark off south head and this is where some changes started to occur. Ruby II was unable to point into the wind anywhere near as successfully as most of the other yachts & Mac & crew despaired as they saw their lead disappear.

It was The Adams 10, Livid that really outsailed everyone on that work, rounding well ahead of the rest of the fleet. They went fast and picked the wind shifts very well. As soon as they rounded up came their big black & orange spinnaker & they were away towards Snug Cove. Ruby II kept a steady course & managed to stay ahead of the fast approaching Tiga & Old Habits, also flying their spinnaker, rapidly making up ground with the other two starters maintaining touch with the rest of the fleet.

It was Livid first around the mark at Snug Cove, but spinnaker troubles prevailed & there is nothing like a flogging spinnaker that makes you lose ground. Before long Livid had dropped back to fourth and was not able to make ground from then on. The fleet then went back to Quarantine Bay & around the circuit again.

However, this time around the Navy Ship had steam up & was on its way. Ruby II in the lead managed to get inside of the ship but Tiga was just behind got caught in the lee of the ship, lost wind, had to deal with the wash as those diesel turbine engines on the ship came to life and before they knew it Old Habits had just about caught them. It was a race to the finish with Ruby II crossing the line first, followed by Tiga & Old Habits duelling it out in the dyeing breeze with Tiga just pipping Old Habits at the finish. Next came Livid and a radio call from Eagle Rock & By Beethoven advising they were pulling out because they had been becalmed for the third time and enough was enough! Also they thought they should get back to their moorings safely before the pending thunderstorm came through which was a sound decision given the wrath that these storms can leash out.

 It was a long race filled with challenges for all competitors, but it was Chris Hopkins & his crew on Old Habits that won on handicap, followed by Ruby II, Tiga& Livid.