On the Water and in the bar.
The stories of the H28's on the Swan River in 2025
The stories of the H28's on the Swan River in 2025
Wednesday Sailing 12th of February 2025
Sailing with Len on a fair sou wester &
Short and wet.
Our chairman Ernie had been exhorting everyone to be on the water today to make the fleet look good. Unfortunately, both the elements and other circumstances came into play.
We lost three boats without a blink with Nerrima, Mariner and Corella not even making it out and of course Ralph and Lynne are in New Zealand so Alma didn’t get a run. Four boats made it out and three boats finished the race with The First Jindarra bowing out, having taken up a fair amount of water.
A heavy sou wester had the choice of headsail as a number two a no-brainer. We were 5 up with Amanda in a support role for anyone who needed it. The start was clean enough and we got away on the run up to Martin-Weaver in third place with the boat doing well enough. We made the mark comfortably and the crew acted in concert to get the boat moving quickly.
Ahead of us, John Wright had Anna behaving, and he mentioned afterwards that the boat had swallowed far less water than last week. The planks had taken up nicely. Swiftsure Saga on the other hand was going like a rocket ship with Guy on the foredeck, having jumped from Nerrima as they had signalled that they weren’t going out. Up to Sampson and then away to Print with a very wet tack on the cards as the chop at the top of the river looking more like Margaret River’s Main Break. Aloha was faring well with Glen driving the boat and Ernie, the owner Andrew and Ralph making up the crew. On the First Jindarra, the spray was coming over the top big time and despite the efforts of the crew on the bilge pump, the water in the cabin was building.
Len was driving the boat higher than most, we had more speed and height than Anna and effectively held her out till we were ready to tack and to make Print, around and away with a pole out to starboard which was dropped early to ensure that there were no problems at the mark. Then across the river aiming at Heathcote where a decision was made. The boat was taking too much water and the pump wasn’t getting rid of it. Retire!
A quick call to Race Control and they were informed that we were taking on water and that all bodies were well. Our retirement was accepted and we made it back to the pens, dropping sails as we went. We later discovered that the limber holes in the frames were blocked.
Behind us the other three boats raced on and yes, we might have continued, but the pump defeated us. Swiftsure Saga did very well and Anna, even though they slowed to take on board the visiting photographer – journalist from England, still finished second over the line. Well done to Aloha who worked hard through the race and kept up with the other two.
Over the line: Swiftsure Saga, Anna and Aloha.
On handicap: Swiftsure Saga, Aloha and Anna.
There were number of retirements across the fleet, with most divisions losing at least one boat.
Saturday Racing: 8th of February 2025
A very light sou wester on a course four.
Three boats: Swiftsure Saga, Nerrima and Aloha.
Over the line: Swiftsure Saga, Aloha and Nerrima
On handicap: Swiftsure Saga, Aloha and Nerrima
It needs be explained that Nerrima came into contact with a boat from another clubs fleet that caused them some grief. The incident is under review.
Sailing with Len on a fair sou wester &
Short and wet.
Our chairman Ernie had been exhorting everyone to be on the water today to make the fleet look good. Unfortunately, both the elements and other circumstances came into play.
We lost three boats without a blink with Nerrima, Mariner and Corella not even making it out and of course Ralph and Lynne are in New Zealand so Alma didn’t get a run. Four boats made it out and three boats finished the race with The First Jindarra bowing out, having taken up a fair amount of water.
A heavy sou wester had the choice of headsail as a number two a no-brainer. We were 5 up with Amanda in a support role for anyone who needed it. The start was clean enough and we got away on the run up to Martin-Weaver in third place with the boat doing well enough. We made the mark comfortably and the crew acted in concert to get the boat moving quickly.
Ahead of us, John Wright had Anna behaving, and he mentioned afterwards that the boat had swallowed far less water than last week. The planks had taken up nicely. Swiftsure Saga on the other hand was going like a rocket ship with Guy on the foredeck, having jumped from Nerrima as they had signalled that they weren’t going out. Up to Sampson and then away to Print with a very wet tack on the cards as the chop at the top of the river looking more like Margaret River’s Main Break. Aloha was faring well with Glen driving the boat and Ernie, the owner Andrew and Ralph making up the crew. On the First Jindarra, the spray was coming over the top big time and despite the efforts of the crew on the bilge pump, the water in the cabin was building.
Len was driving the boat higher than most, we had more speed and height than Anna and effectively held her out till we were ready to tack and to make Print, around and away with a pole out to starboard which was dropped early to ensure that there were no problems at the mark. Then across the river aiming at Heathcote where a decision was made. The boat was taking too much water and the pump wasn’t getting rid of it. Retire!
A quick call to Race Control and they were informed that we were taking on water and that all bodies were well. Our retirement was accepted and we made it back to the pens, dropping sails as we went. We later discovered that the limber holes in the frames were blocked.
Behind us the other three boats raced on and yes, we might have continued, but the pump defeated us. Swiftsure Saga did very well and Anna, even though they slowed to take on board the visiting photographer – journalist from England, still finished second over the line. Well done to Aloha who worked hard through the race and kept up with the other two.
Over the line: Swiftsure Saga, Anna and Aloha.
On handicap: Swiftsure Saga, Aloha and Anna.
There were number of retirements across the fleet, with most divisions losing at least one boat.
Saturday Racing: 8th of February 2025
A very light sou wester on a course four.
Three boats: Swiftsure Saga, Nerrima and Aloha.
Over the line: Swiftsure Saga, Aloha and Nerrima
On handicap: Swiftsure Saga, Aloha and Nerrima
It needs be explained that Nerrima came into contact with a boat from another clubs fleet that caused them some grief. The incident is under review.
Wednesday Sailing 5th of February 2025
The Lyn Rue Davey memorial trophy.
A bite to eat, a cold beer and a floor show &
Chasing Bill.
A building sou wester and an RO who decided to send us away straight to Sampson. All sounds good, but we could have done with the one and a half rather than the number one we had on. However, most of us were similarly kitted out, so it was a case of put up with it.
Five boats today with Aloha and Anna joining us, with the crews rocking up more or less just in time. Many thanks to Guy who wandered around with a camera pre start getting snaps. With Phil up on the farm again we were blessed with Kate who was running the foredeck on Mariner, giving Geoff a chance to run the main and give the skipper hell again. Welcome to a couple of visitors, Ralph and a nephew of Judith Magee who came out for a ride on Aloha with Ernie at the helm.
The start was to be the winner for all and we blew it. We wandered across the line a minute late and tail end Charlie. Our mission was to get past four boats. Yeah – Right!
So, chase them down and make our way to Sampson and round the mark at the tail of the fleet. Bill was in the lead with Nerrima and Aloha doing well and John W had Anna flowing well, but missing time on the water. There were some comments on the hieroglyphics on the foresail of Aloha as the patch work on the elderly sail led some to comment on the meanings of the strange devises on the sail.
We tacked out and made Print in one with the skipper exhorting the main to ‘lift me a little higher’, that got us good and close to the mob up the front. Then after Addison we decided to push our luck with a series of tacks that kept us in phase and driving up to Robins, but staying over on the eastern side kept us out of the slop that was pumping down the river. Fast was the call. A number of crosses told us that we were about to roll past Aloha and Anna and making the top at Robins with a squeaky rounding (well done Kate, she let the jib loose and we used the main to drive us past the mark). We had two boats behind us and our target was Nerrima.
Down to Addsion again, a little by the lee perhaps and the combination of a couple of Div two boats and a tidy put away of the jib had us around and the two div two boats took Nerrima away with them. We whipped around the mark chortling to ourselves. Aim for Robins again, this time we had to deal with a bunch of RP boats, but tack and aim for the top again. A clean rounding and at the same time we could see Anna making their way home. Hopefully they were ok. Down to Como this time and as it was close to four, we looked at the start box... no flags, so around we go again.
Short and sweet with the boat positively howling on the open reaches. 7 + knots and the trimming had me out on the edge of the boat running a well filled headsail. Alternatively, I was doing the same for Kate, but we just couldn’t catch Bill on Swiftsure Saga. During all this, Aloha put out a retirement call and a request for a tow in. They had the jib halyard part company with the jib and the sail fell to the deck. They may have also lost their propeller in another incident. We watched Swiftsure Saga hit the line and then finished the race in the same manner. Nerrima made their way over the line a minute or so later.
Over the line: Swiftsure Saga, Mariner and Nerrima
On handicap: Swiftsure Saga, Mariner and Nerrima
Winner of the Lyn Rue Davey trophy.. Swiftsure Saga
The floor show arrived as Nerrima, who had suffered a motor failure, was towed back to the pen. A royal stuff up and I’ll only comment that the helm wasn’t at the right end of the boat. But it kept all the boats on jetty four and three entertained. The manner of taking the boat in under control was discussed and it was agreed that it could have been done better.
The 5th H28 Championship on the 1st of Feb. Sailed in a SSW beginning on 15 knots.
Over the line: Corella, Swiftsure Saga, Aloha and Nerrima.
On handicap: Swiftsure Saga, Aloha, Corella and Nerrima.
At this stage of the day Corella has a solid grip on the Championship, but Aloha is doing fine on consistency and should do well.
The Lyn Rue Davey memorial trophy.
A bite to eat, a cold beer and a floor show &
Chasing Bill.
A building sou wester and an RO who decided to send us away straight to Sampson. All sounds good, but we could have done with the one and a half rather than the number one we had on. However, most of us were similarly kitted out, so it was a case of put up with it.
Five boats today with Aloha and Anna joining us, with the crews rocking up more or less just in time. Many thanks to Guy who wandered around with a camera pre start getting snaps. With Phil up on the farm again we were blessed with Kate who was running the foredeck on Mariner, giving Geoff a chance to run the main and give the skipper hell again. Welcome to a couple of visitors, Ralph and a nephew of Judith Magee who came out for a ride on Aloha with Ernie at the helm.
The start was to be the winner for all and we blew it. We wandered across the line a minute late and tail end Charlie. Our mission was to get past four boats. Yeah – Right!
So, chase them down and make our way to Sampson and round the mark at the tail of the fleet. Bill was in the lead with Nerrima and Aloha doing well and John W had Anna flowing well, but missing time on the water. There were some comments on the hieroglyphics on the foresail of Aloha as the patch work on the elderly sail led some to comment on the meanings of the strange devises on the sail.
We tacked out and made Print in one with the skipper exhorting the main to ‘lift me a little higher’, that got us good and close to the mob up the front. Then after Addison we decided to push our luck with a series of tacks that kept us in phase and driving up to Robins, but staying over on the eastern side kept us out of the slop that was pumping down the river. Fast was the call. A number of crosses told us that we were about to roll past Aloha and Anna and making the top at Robins with a squeaky rounding (well done Kate, she let the jib loose and we used the main to drive us past the mark). We had two boats behind us and our target was Nerrima.
Down to Addsion again, a little by the lee perhaps and the combination of a couple of Div two boats and a tidy put away of the jib had us around and the two div two boats took Nerrima away with them. We whipped around the mark chortling to ourselves. Aim for Robins again, this time we had to deal with a bunch of RP boats, but tack and aim for the top again. A clean rounding and at the same time we could see Anna making their way home. Hopefully they were ok. Down to Como this time and as it was close to four, we looked at the start box... no flags, so around we go again.
Short and sweet with the boat positively howling on the open reaches. 7 + knots and the trimming had me out on the edge of the boat running a well filled headsail. Alternatively, I was doing the same for Kate, but we just couldn’t catch Bill on Swiftsure Saga. During all this, Aloha put out a retirement call and a request for a tow in. They had the jib halyard part company with the jib and the sail fell to the deck. They may have also lost their propeller in another incident. We watched Swiftsure Saga hit the line and then finished the race in the same manner. Nerrima made their way over the line a minute or so later.
Over the line: Swiftsure Saga, Mariner and Nerrima
On handicap: Swiftsure Saga, Mariner and Nerrima
Winner of the Lyn Rue Davey trophy.. Swiftsure Saga
The floor show arrived as Nerrima, who had suffered a motor failure, was towed back to the pen. A royal stuff up and I’ll only comment that the helm wasn’t at the right end of the boat. But it kept all the boats on jetty four and three entertained. The manner of taking the boat in under control was discussed and it was agreed that it could have been done better.
The 5th H28 Championship on the 1st of Feb. Sailed in a SSW beginning on 15 knots.
Over the line: Corella, Swiftsure Saga, Aloha and Nerrima.
On handicap: Swiftsure Saga, Aloha, Corella and Nerrima.
At this stage of the day Corella has a solid grip on the Championship, but Aloha is doing fine on consistency and should do well.
Wednesday Sailing 29th of January 2025
A surprise seabreeze &
A drag race to Sampson.
39.5 degrees on the water and a fluctuating easterly had us all wondering whether we had enough beer and water on board. The numbers were down as well with four in our fleet and a total of 22 over all the boats sailing. Certainly, the Geographe Bay racing coming up next month has got a few people taking it easy, but I think the heat was enough to stop a number of the big boats in div one and two from competing.
Then a line appeared, coming up the river…. The seabreeze was in. Plenty of it as well. The RO, Lynne Newton took one look at it and threw an AP up in the middle of the div one start sequence. Stop, re adjust the flags and we went from a course four to a course one. Just like that.
Away we went with the decision to stay low leaving us competing with Corella and Swiftsure while Mark on Nerrima chose to start a bit higher on the line. A freshly scrubbed and painted hull gave Lockie the edge on the run and no matter what, we were going to be in strife. We made it to Sampson with skipper calling no overlap to Bill on Swiftsure Saga, but we went wide nonetheless and then tacked as soon as we could. Bill, David and Mark went right, we went out to a port ley and then set off to get back in front of Bill if we could.
Good trimming made it happen and a couple of tacks later we were around and setting a pole. Corella was a bit cheeky and didn’t bother doing a pole, just taking a deep angle and running out then gybing back to hit Addison, still well in front. Oh well, no catching him then.
With the breeze well set, we took off down the river and found ourselves looking at Applecross jetty and then dropping down till we were almost opposite Frenchmans before we tacked out again. Bill had the same problem and we managed to stay in front on the cross the first time but he slipped through on the second cross near Robins. Around the mark with David well in front and Mark and Nerrima sailing a lot more freely this time, perhaps the better breeze was to his liking.
A pole to Addison and we managed to keep up with Bill for a while, but he managed to slip away while the skipper called for a beer for consolation. A moments reflection and a chance to discuss the race. Stow the empties and then back up to Robins with a couple of the bigger boats slipping past for a photo op. No, we weren’t catching Bill either and Lockie was even further away. Around and down to Como with the skipper wondering whether we might find a shortened course flag in sight as we rounded the mark. Sure enough, the message was fluttering from the start box masts and we heard Corella pick up the win. Oh well, we got it last week.
Over the line: Corella, Swiftsure Saga and Mariner
On handicap: Corella, Swiftsure Saga and Nerrima.
Yep: Tail end Charlie. Won’t hurt the handicap at all.
There was a bit of fun earlier in the day when the boys on Swiftsure Saga replaced the two inner stays on SSS. One had gone pop the previous week and it was a case of having a new set made and put in place. Erich was sent up the mast.. welcome to the club Erich, thankfully you were doing it in the pen.
The start boat was still out of action this week.. apparently it was a dud battery but it seems to have become a bit worse that that. More to find out.
No Saturday Sailing. A long weekend.
A surprise seabreeze &
A drag race to Sampson.
39.5 degrees on the water and a fluctuating easterly had us all wondering whether we had enough beer and water on board. The numbers were down as well with four in our fleet and a total of 22 over all the boats sailing. Certainly, the Geographe Bay racing coming up next month has got a few people taking it easy, but I think the heat was enough to stop a number of the big boats in div one and two from competing.
Then a line appeared, coming up the river…. The seabreeze was in. Plenty of it as well. The RO, Lynne Newton took one look at it and threw an AP up in the middle of the div one start sequence. Stop, re adjust the flags and we went from a course four to a course one. Just like that.
Away we went with the decision to stay low leaving us competing with Corella and Swiftsure while Mark on Nerrima chose to start a bit higher on the line. A freshly scrubbed and painted hull gave Lockie the edge on the run and no matter what, we were going to be in strife. We made it to Sampson with skipper calling no overlap to Bill on Swiftsure Saga, but we went wide nonetheless and then tacked as soon as we could. Bill, David and Mark went right, we went out to a port ley and then set off to get back in front of Bill if we could.
Good trimming made it happen and a couple of tacks later we were around and setting a pole. Corella was a bit cheeky and didn’t bother doing a pole, just taking a deep angle and running out then gybing back to hit Addison, still well in front. Oh well, no catching him then.
With the breeze well set, we took off down the river and found ourselves looking at Applecross jetty and then dropping down till we were almost opposite Frenchmans before we tacked out again. Bill had the same problem and we managed to stay in front on the cross the first time but he slipped through on the second cross near Robins. Around the mark with David well in front and Mark and Nerrima sailing a lot more freely this time, perhaps the better breeze was to his liking.
A pole to Addison and we managed to keep up with Bill for a while, but he managed to slip away while the skipper called for a beer for consolation. A moments reflection and a chance to discuss the race. Stow the empties and then back up to Robins with a couple of the bigger boats slipping past for a photo op. No, we weren’t catching Bill either and Lockie was even further away. Around and down to Como with the skipper wondering whether we might find a shortened course flag in sight as we rounded the mark. Sure enough, the message was fluttering from the start box masts and we heard Corella pick up the win. Oh well, we got it last week.
Over the line: Corella, Swiftsure Saga and Mariner
On handicap: Corella, Swiftsure Saga and Nerrima.
Yep: Tail end Charlie. Won’t hurt the handicap at all.
There was a bit of fun earlier in the day when the boys on Swiftsure Saga replaced the two inner stays on SSS. One had gone pop the previous week and it was a case of having a new set made and put in place. Erich was sent up the mast.. welcome to the club Erich, thankfully you were doing it in the pen.
The start boat was still out of action this week.. apparently it was a dud battery but it seems to have become a bit worse that that. More to find out.
No Saturday Sailing. A long weekend.
Wednesday Sailing 22nd of January 2025
Will I, wont we. &
A tow back home.
On another day, forecast to be a stinker with nothing available in the way of a breeze, only four boats rocked up. Bill on Swiftsure Saga has blown the RH inner on the mast and isn’t sailing till its fixed. Must have happened between Saturday and Wednesday… he finished the race on Saturday.
I’d originally said no, (too hot) but dropped down to the club anyway on a different matter. As I did, the Sou westerlies were in and peaking at 30 knots OMG. Where did that come from? As a result, Len on the Jin made a choice and didn’t go. I decided to go as it was cooling down and shot home to pick up my kit.
Back onto the boat and three H28s set onto the water. Corella, Mariner and Nerrima. All were well staffed and it was to be a good race with a course 4 and the breeze down at 14 knots on the top. A lot of south in it as well and the Canning influence was to play a part in the race.
A fair start had Corella and Mariner playing together on the run to Martin with Corella marginally in the lead. But inexplicably they began to drop away and ended up deep into the moorings while our boat (and skipper) managed to stay up at the urging of Geoff on the foredeck. We left them behind from then on. Around Martin we went and it was to be a follow the leader sort of day.
Down to Sampson on a will I wont we run with a pole being thrown up to get us there. Then simply point the boat at Robins and watch the speedo. Corella wasn’t able to catch us, thanks to a quick scrub of the hull and it was the trimming that made the difference. There were no passing lanes today and the game was the same once we had rounded Robins and headed off to Dolphin East.
There was a slight problem with the breeze as it was becoming fickle, but so long as we stayed in front, then it was fine. Away to Como and then battle the Canning shifts as we aimed to get over the start line and around and away to Sampson again. I managed to sneak a quick photo in of Nerrima as Mark dealt with his own crisis (a leaky boat) But he managed to keep the crew on the boat and they were doing well enough with Guy who’s graduated to running the main.
Around the small triangle and various gybes thrown around and we made our way through a bunch of RP boats while avoiding some of the Foundation 36’s of our fleet. None of them phased us and we made our way across to Print and rolled around it, aiming at Como almost on the breeze, but ever so slightly cracked. To Thelma, tacking to cover Lockie who had had a chance to find a passing lane. Not enough to help him and we shot down to Thelma with a renewed purpose. Around and a reach to the finish line. Couldn’t stop the skipper from smiling as we passed the line. As Ron said, it’s a good win when it’s a first and fastest and it’s been a while.
Over the line: Mariner, Corella and Nerrima
On handicap: The same.
Of course, the big event of the day occurred when Waylen Bay, the club rescue boat broke down and Rita and Dave had to go and bring her back.. there’s a story in that. Hopefully they dropped a pick, so it didn’t drift onto a beach somewhere.
Saturday the 18th of January the club championship #4
Sailed on a frisky afternoon with a sou wester of 16 knots.
Over the line: Corella, Swiftsure Saga and Nerrima
On Handicap: Aloha, Swiftsure Saga and Corella
Geoff Reason has taken the Saturday helm on Nerrima while Les Brooker is horsd’combat and Mark Wimhurst has the helm on Wednesdays.
Talking about Les, they’ve put his op back 2 weeks. So he went out to lunch.
Will I, wont we. &
A tow back home.
On another day, forecast to be a stinker with nothing available in the way of a breeze, only four boats rocked up. Bill on Swiftsure Saga has blown the RH inner on the mast and isn’t sailing till its fixed. Must have happened between Saturday and Wednesday… he finished the race on Saturday.
I’d originally said no, (too hot) but dropped down to the club anyway on a different matter. As I did, the Sou westerlies were in and peaking at 30 knots OMG. Where did that come from? As a result, Len on the Jin made a choice and didn’t go. I decided to go as it was cooling down and shot home to pick up my kit.
Back onto the boat and three H28s set onto the water. Corella, Mariner and Nerrima. All were well staffed and it was to be a good race with a course 4 and the breeze down at 14 knots on the top. A lot of south in it as well and the Canning influence was to play a part in the race.
A fair start had Corella and Mariner playing together on the run to Martin with Corella marginally in the lead. But inexplicably they began to drop away and ended up deep into the moorings while our boat (and skipper) managed to stay up at the urging of Geoff on the foredeck. We left them behind from then on. Around Martin we went and it was to be a follow the leader sort of day.
Down to Sampson on a will I wont we run with a pole being thrown up to get us there. Then simply point the boat at Robins and watch the speedo. Corella wasn’t able to catch us, thanks to a quick scrub of the hull and it was the trimming that made the difference. There were no passing lanes today and the game was the same once we had rounded Robins and headed off to Dolphin East.
There was a slight problem with the breeze as it was becoming fickle, but so long as we stayed in front, then it was fine. Away to Como and then battle the Canning shifts as we aimed to get over the start line and around and away to Sampson again. I managed to sneak a quick photo in of Nerrima as Mark dealt with his own crisis (a leaky boat) But he managed to keep the crew on the boat and they were doing well enough with Guy who’s graduated to running the main.
Around the small triangle and various gybes thrown around and we made our way through a bunch of RP boats while avoiding some of the Foundation 36’s of our fleet. None of them phased us and we made our way across to Print and rolled around it, aiming at Como almost on the breeze, but ever so slightly cracked. To Thelma, tacking to cover Lockie who had had a chance to find a passing lane. Not enough to help him and we shot down to Thelma with a renewed purpose. Around and a reach to the finish line. Couldn’t stop the skipper from smiling as we passed the line. As Ron said, it’s a good win when it’s a first and fastest and it’s been a while.
Over the line: Mariner, Corella and Nerrima
On handicap: The same.
Of course, the big event of the day occurred when Waylen Bay, the club rescue boat broke down and Rita and Dave had to go and bring her back.. there’s a story in that. Hopefully they dropped a pick, so it didn’t drift onto a beach somewhere.
Saturday the 18th of January the club championship #4
Sailed on a frisky afternoon with a sou wester of 16 knots.
Over the line: Corella, Swiftsure Saga and Nerrima
On Handicap: Aloha, Swiftsure Saga and Corella
Geoff Reason has taken the Saturday helm on Nerrima while Les Brooker is horsd’combat and Mark Wimhurst has the helm on Wednesdays.
Talking about Les, they’ve put his op back 2 weeks. So he went out to lunch.
Wednesday Sailing 15th
of January 2025
A day for Mr Randell. &
A lesson learned.
Half a dozen H28s moved out of the pens this afternoon with the promise of a bit of a breeze out of the Sou-West. Two of the more competitive sorts had cleaned their hulls and some of us thought about it.
Wynella is still without a rudder as the shipwright went on holidays over Christmas and despite all thoughts of haste, the work has yet to begin on the rudder. At the moment, Aloha is playing host to the crew of Wynella with a number of them ready to keep the boat (any boat) on the go. Alma is getting a new deck I believe and is stripped of her gear in preparation for the event. Well done, Ralph. And Nerima… had a spare bilge pump put in and Les was quite pleased about that, but I don’t think the sparky will be paid as he forgot to hook the pump up. More about that later.
A southerly start with the boats lining up above the line preparing to swoop down. We had come in from a fair way out and then hung on our sails till the time came. We watched as Bill and Dave slipped past Mariner and set the early pace up to Martin. Our job was to get above the bad air, which we eventually did and made it around in 3rd place. Then it was a case of set to chase the pair in front while the rest of the fleet sorted themselves out. And it didn’t take long to see Len Randell begin to push Nerrima.
Up to Sampson with Lockie warding off attempts from his former crew member to get past him. They turned at Sampson and it was then a look up the breeze to see how close to the mark we could get. Not bad, but the lead boats were already well away.. clean bottoms help apparently. Around Print and a pole to Addison with the first cross over to Heathcote before heading down the river. The fun and games began as to who would pick the right path. Bill on Swiftsure had decided to tack away and probably did well of it as he came back a bit closer to Corella.
We however, had tucked ourselves in deep to the channel and then bounced out to see how we would fare, only to see Les retiring smartly with the stern quite low. It was later that we heard about the problem with the bilge pump.
Away we went, further up to Robins where Bill was closer than ever, but Len had already made his way past us with a good cross from out in the middle where he had picked up a lot of time. Around and away we went with a pole that was quite by the lee. Didn’t have to gybe but it was a dodgy run with Geoff on the boom to keep it there. Len on the other hand had an involuntary gybe that nearly took his foredeckie out, wedging him between the shroud and the boom. OOOPs!
But he was in the lead despite our attempt to get in under his transom at Addison, so we faced the ordeal of chasing Len for the next lap.
Up front, Bill had succeeded in getting past Lockie and I have to presume they were both wearing number ones where we had a one and a half. I guess Len must have had a number one as well.
Looking back Aloha was doing well enough, but a new crew and with Steve Hill at the helm they were happy enough to keep rolling along. So up to Robins again with the added fillip of the RP boats coming across on starboard. They pushed Len about a little and it may have cost him the win on handicap. However up and around then down to Como where we turned right and aimed at the line. We learnt to our pleasure that the course had been shortened and it was a honk from the horn that told us that Swiftsure had led the fleet home.
Over the line: Swiftsure Saga, Corella, The First Jindarra
On handicap: Swiftsure Saga, The First Jindarra, Corella
Poor Len.. second by 7 seconds….. those RP boats cost him his first win for the season.
Just briefly:
Les Brooker is going into hospital for a major op and will not be sailing for the rest of the season. Mark Wimhurst is taking the helm for Wednesdays. Geoff Reason will be taking the helm on Saturdays. We all wish Les well.
A day for Mr Randell. &
A lesson learned.
Half a dozen H28s moved out of the pens this afternoon with the promise of a bit of a breeze out of the Sou-West. Two of the more competitive sorts had cleaned their hulls and some of us thought about it.
Wynella is still without a rudder as the shipwright went on holidays over Christmas and despite all thoughts of haste, the work has yet to begin on the rudder. At the moment, Aloha is playing host to the crew of Wynella with a number of them ready to keep the boat (any boat) on the go. Alma is getting a new deck I believe and is stripped of her gear in preparation for the event. Well done, Ralph. And Nerima… had a spare bilge pump put in and Les was quite pleased about that, but I don’t think the sparky will be paid as he forgot to hook the pump up. More about that later.
A southerly start with the boats lining up above the line preparing to swoop down. We had come in from a fair way out and then hung on our sails till the time came. We watched as Bill and Dave slipped past Mariner and set the early pace up to Martin. Our job was to get above the bad air, which we eventually did and made it around in 3rd place. Then it was a case of set to chase the pair in front while the rest of the fleet sorted themselves out. And it didn’t take long to see Len Randell begin to push Nerrima.
Up to Sampson with Lockie warding off attempts from his former crew member to get past him. They turned at Sampson and it was then a look up the breeze to see how close to the mark we could get. Not bad, but the lead boats were already well away.. clean bottoms help apparently. Around Print and a pole to Addison with the first cross over to Heathcote before heading down the river. The fun and games began as to who would pick the right path. Bill on Swiftsure had decided to tack away and probably did well of it as he came back a bit closer to Corella.
We however, had tucked ourselves in deep to the channel and then bounced out to see how we would fare, only to see Les retiring smartly with the stern quite low. It was later that we heard about the problem with the bilge pump.
Away we went, further up to Robins where Bill was closer than ever, but Len had already made his way past us with a good cross from out in the middle where he had picked up a lot of time. Around and away we went with a pole that was quite by the lee. Didn’t have to gybe but it was a dodgy run with Geoff on the boom to keep it there. Len on the other hand had an involuntary gybe that nearly took his foredeckie out, wedging him between the shroud and the boom. OOOPs!
But he was in the lead despite our attempt to get in under his transom at Addison, so we faced the ordeal of chasing Len for the next lap.
Up front, Bill had succeeded in getting past Lockie and I have to presume they were both wearing number ones where we had a one and a half. I guess Len must have had a number one as well.
Looking back Aloha was doing well enough, but a new crew and with Steve Hill at the helm they were happy enough to keep rolling along. So up to Robins again with the added fillip of the RP boats coming across on starboard. They pushed Len about a little and it may have cost him the win on handicap. However up and around then down to Como where we turned right and aimed at the line. We learnt to our pleasure that the course had been shortened and it was a honk from the horn that told us that Swiftsure had led the fleet home.
Over the line: Swiftsure Saga, Corella, The First Jindarra
On handicap: Swiftsure Saga, The First Jindarra, Corella
Poor Len.. second by 7 seconds….. those RP boats cost him his first win for the season.
Just briefly:
Les Brooker is going into hospital for a major op and will not be sailing for the rest of the season. Mark Wimhurst is taking the helm for Wednesdays. Geoff Reason will be taking the helm on Saturdays. We all wish Les well.