On the Water and in the bar.
The stories of the H28's on the Swan River in 2026
Wednesday Sailing 6th of May
Smoky Day and
A Matter of Choices.
Sailing on Nerrima for the day, I found myself running the main and enjoying the company of Greg and Christina as well as Les Brooker. The smoke was already falling down around the river as we formed up for a pursuit race with 34 boats no less and 6 H28’s in the pack. Better than closing day?
Enjoying a very low handicap (2) we were lingering around the start line, trying to keep our boat ready for the bolt for the line, but there were a number of other boats trying to do exactly the same. Of course we were hung up by one of the miscreants and got to the line some 40 seconds late. Then had to deal with a breeze that was in two minds and we were slapped by what felt like a seabreeze. That slowed us down again.
Of course, Wynella, who had a handicap less than ours, had hit the line on time and we had to get the boat running after her. Which we did. But it was a dash around the river on a course 2 with a long run out to Hall Mark and thence to Armstrong before bending back to Como all in an 8 to 10 knot breeze. Slowly wearing down Wynella, we got to Hall Mark and found ourselves not too far away. So on to Armstrong and from a poled out position to a broad reach as we began to look for the mark in the distance. No, not the conical buoy but the triangular mark further up. That cost us 20 or 30 metres with the fleet behind closing up a little.
Then tack immediately at Armstrong or go out a little. We went out and tacked right after Wynella to keep them honest. Alma, Anna and Swiftsure Saga followed suit but Mariner with Brian and David Locke chose to tack on the spot and were clearly aiming on lifting the boat up to the mark at Como. Which they did, but we had our own battle with Wynella, eventually rolling them, but not without a spirited tussle that had them closing right up to us.
At Como, we turned and lead the lead pack to the outer start-line and then away to Sampson and the dash to Dolphin East. Again, a pole or not, but Les called for a broad reach and we settled down to searching for D-E amongst the smoke haze. The inner and outer dolphins were identified and we looked for the stick that would tell us that we on the mark. Found it and then we knew we had trouble as Alma and Mariner were steadily closing on us.
Around we went and looked for Foam Spit where we knew we would find Print close by. A steady procession sent us on to Como which was well to starboard, but we had to make a choice. Go at the mark or go deep. We went deep while Alma and Mariner went early. Which in retrospect was the right choice. They had rights on us when we tacked for Thelma and from then on, it was follow the lead boat. The smoke haze was lifting as the sea breeze struggled in and while it didn’t cause any trouble on the water, at least the smoke was clearing.
Third over the line with Mariner making good choices and Alma doing a damn fine job to nail us in the last two marks. Well sailed all of them.
Over the line and on handicap: Mariner, Alma & Nerima with Swiftsure Saga, Wynella and Anna following along.
A very enjoyable afternoon, if a little smoky and we were left to consider the choices made during the race.
Smoky Day and
A Matter of Choices.
Sailing on Nerrima for the day, I found myself running the main and enjoying the company of Greg and Christina as well as Les Brooker. The smoke was already falling down around the river as we formed up for a pursuit race with 34 boats no less and 6 H28’s in the pack. Better than closing day?
Enjoying a very low handicap (2) we were lingering around the start line, trying to keep our boat ready for the bolt for the line, but there were a number of other boats trying to do exactly the same. Of course we were hung up by one of the miscreants and got to the line some 40 seconds late. Then had to deal with a breeze that was in two minds and we were slapped by what felt like a seabreeze. That slowed us down again.
Of course, Wynella, who had a handicap less than ours, had hit the line on time and we had to get the boat running after her. Which we did. But it was a dash around the river on a course 2 with a long run out to Hall Mark and thence to Armstrong before bending back to Como all in an 8 to 10 knot breeze. Slowly wearing down Wynella, we got to Hall Mark and found ourselves not too far away. So on to Armstrong and from a poled out position to a broad reach as we began to look for the mark in the distance. No, not the conical buoy but the triangular mark further up. That cost us 20 or 30 metres with the fleet behind closing up a little.
Then tack immediately at Armstrong or go out a little. We went out and tacked right after Wynella to keep them honest. Alma, Anna and Swiftsure Saga followed suit but Mariner with Brian and David Locke chose to tack on the spot and were clearly aiming on lifting the boat up to the mark at Como. Which they did, but we had our own battle with Wynella, eventually rolling them, but not without a spirited tussle that had them closing right up to us.
At Como, we turned and lead the lead pack to the outer start-line and then away to Sampson and the dash to Dolphin East. Again, a pole or not, but Les called for a broad reach and we settled down to searching for D-E amongst the smoke haze. The inner and outer dolphins were identified and we looked for the stick that would tell us that we on the mark. Found it and then we knew we had trouble as Alma and Mariner were steadily closing on us.
Around we went and looked for Foam Spit where we knew we would find Print close by. A steady procession sent us on to Como which was well to starboard, but we had to make a choice. Go at the mark or go deep. We went deep while Alma and Mariner went early. Which in retrospect was the right choice. They had rights on us when we tacked for Thelma and from then on, it was follow the lead boat. The smoke haze was lifting as the sea breeze struggled in and while it didn’t cause any trouble on the water, at least the smoke was clearing.
Third over the line with Mariner making good choices and Alma doing a damn fine job to nail us in the last two marks. Well sailed all of them.
Over the line and on handicap: Mariner, Alma & Nerima with Swiftsure Saga, Wynella and Anna following along.
A very enjoyable afternoon, if a little smoky and we were left to consider the choices made during the race.
Wednesday Sailing. The 15th of April 2026
Smoke gets in your eyes!
Another call from Les on Nerrima, he’s got people missing again as Simon is wandering around with the S80’s doing the Legends race and Greg is somewhere else. But all is not lost with Ernie Little deciding that he would join us to keep the numbers up as they had enough on Wynella with Guy re-joining the boat.
That bumped me down to port side trimmer, but I was happy enough with that and as we looked around, we noted that we only had 3 starters today with Ralph, Lockie, John and Brian all off the track today. Maybe they knew something we didn’t? Perhaps the fact the river was covered in smoke from the burn offs had something to do with it.
The motor started confidently and away we went onto the water, mind you I need to give the boat a more confident push next time, as we mucked about for a few minutes and eventually went out backwards. But all was well and we got the sails up and then pottered around with the boat doing fine. Now if only the breeze would come in.
As our time approached, we headed off to the line and then joined the other two, nervously running down the line ready to swing the tiller over and join the fray. Damn it. Swiftsure took off like a skinned cat and was already well away on the course 4 with about 5 to 8 knots out of the sou west. Ah well, the race was between Wynella and Nerrima and we knew that their handicap was lower than ours anyway.
Down to Sampson and then bend away to Robins with the breeze helping us up the river, we took a lucky move to the left and found a breeze that kept us competitive with the pair on our right starting to slow and as we made our way down the river, we thought we might have a chance.
As we reached the apogee of our trip down the river, we were crossed by Swiftsure Saga as they headed to Robins, but Wynella was a different kettle of fish and we managed to get around her and to the mark first, however in the consequential drag race to Dolphin East we lost our way and Wynella slipped into the lead. And so it went with the pole out and causing grief as the length of the spinnaker pole (in my opinion) is too long and we had a difficulty getting the jib to set. However, that’s neither here or there and the scarcity of a breeze was the major factor. Ernie was as usual, doing a fantastic job running all over the boat like a demented blowfly and setting the jib like a seasoned foredecky.
But to no avail as the breeze just wasn’t any help to us and the sight of Wynella’s transom was not inspiring to say the least. Around Dolphin East and away to Como with the clock ticking loudly. The betting was already on as Como hauled into view and you could see in the distance flags fluttering from the start box. Ah well!
Then to the finish line. Nothing was easy as the wandering breeze made it impossible to make the line in one hit. No, we tacked and tacked again and watched Wynella shave past Heathcote Dolphin with centimetres to spare. But that saved them one tack and it all counts up. Finally Swiftsure Saga crossed the line and were rewarded by a toot from the box and Wynella was second nearly 2 minutes later. Nerrima was third another minute or so after Wynella. It was still a good day out.
Over the line: Swiftsure Saga, Wynella & Nerrima.
On handicap: Wynella, Swiftsure Saga & Nerrima.
Many thanks to Guy Gibson for his photos as I didn’t pack a camera today.
I’m away next week to Margaret River for the pro. You may find a few photos on my other website in a week’s time.
Smoke gets in your eyes!
Another call from Les on Nerrima, he’s got people missing again as Simon is wandering around with the S80’s doing the Legends race and Greg is somewhere else. But all is not lost with Ernie Little deciding that he would join us to keep the numbers up as they had enough on Wynella with Guy re-joining the boat.
That bumped me down to port side trimmer, but I was happy enough with that and as we looked around, we noted that we only had 3 starters today with Ralph, Lockie, John and Brian all off the track today. Maybe they knew something we didn’t? Perhaps the fact the river was covered in smoke from the burn offs had something to do with it.
The motor started confidently and away we went onto the water, mind you I need to give the boat a more confident push next time, as we mucked about for a few minutes and eventually went out backwards. But all was well and we got the sails up and then pottered around with the boat doing fine. Now if only the breeze would come in.
As our time approached, we headed off to the line and then joined the other two, nervously running down the line ready to swing the tiller over and join the fray. Damn it. Swiftsure took off like a skinned cat and was already well away on the course 4 with about 5 to 8 knots out of the sou west. Ah well, the race was between Wynella and Nerrima and we knew that their handicap was lower than ours anyway.
Down to Sampson and then bend away to Robins with the breeze helping us up the river, we took a lucky move to the left and found a breeze that kept us competitive with the pair on our right starting to slow and as we made our way down the river, we thought we might have a chance.
As we reached the apogee of our trip down the river, we were crossed by Swiftsure Saga as they headed to Robins, but Wynella was a different kettle of fish and we managed to get around her and to the mark first, however in the consequential drag race to Dolphin East we lost our way and Wynella slipped into the lead. And so it went with the pole out and causing grief as the length of the spinnaker pole (in my opinion) is too long and we had a difficulty getting the jib to set. However, that’s neither here or there and the scarcity of a breeze was the major factor. Ernie was as usual, doing a fantastic job running all over the boat like a demented blowfly and setting the jib like a seasoned foredecky.
But to no avail as the breeze just wasn’t any help to us and the sight of Wynella’s transom was not inspiring to say the least. Around Dolphin East and away to Como with the clock ticking loudly. The betting was already on as Como hauled into view and you could see in the distance flags fluttering from the start box. Ah well!
Then to the finish line. Nothing was easy as the wandering breeze made it impossible to make the line in one hit. No, we tacked and tacked again and watched Wynella shave past Heathcote Dolphin with centimetres to spare. But that saved them one tack and it all counts up. Finally Swiftsure Saga crossed the line and were rewarded by a toot from the box and Wynella was second nearly 2 minutes later. Nerrima was third another minute or so after Wynella. It was still a good day out.
Over the line: Swiftsure Saga, Wynella & Nerrima.
On handicap: Wynella, Swiftsure Saga & Nerrima.
Many thanks to Guy Gibson for his photos as I didn’t pack a camera today.
I’m away next week to Margaret River for the pro. You may find a few photos on my other website in a week’s time.
Wednesday the 18th of February 2026
Yes, its been a while and may be a bit fragmentary for a period yet.
I received a call to join Nerrima for a cameo run on the mainsheet with a couple of regulars (Greg and Christina) doing the trim and the legend himself Les Brooker on the helm. We had a full deck of boats joining the H28 fleet and 7 boats were aspiring to make their mark on the river.
A run outside to see what the breeze was doing with the seabreeze making its way in to cool the river off. It was light to begin with at around 10 knots, but the starters had no reason not to offer a course one and thankfully they didn't send us up the Canning as that might have made one or two of us blink.
"Which end" said Les; clear air or join the crowd on the pin end. We has Alma and Wynella on our tail and the other four, Corella, Mariner, Swiftsure Saga and Anna playing the crowd at the pin. Not too bad a start though for pure speed it was Lockie and Brian just getting away, but we were doing fine and led the rest into Sampson, ready for the run up to Print. We rounded well and Les tucked himself in behind Lockie with Brian taking the lead. Kept going too, as we had good height and the boat felt fine.
Ready for the tack over to Print with Alma coming in from way out on the left as he had elected to tack off to avoid the bad air from the fleet. A little bit of tacking and dodging and around we went with a comfortable gybe that set us up for a pole on starboard. Up it went and I will state that Nerima's spinnaker pole is longer than usual. Hard to manoeuvre around.
However, it got us down there, but we couldn't keep Alma out and he managed to get inside us on the mark. Bugger. Down to fourth. Then the work up to Robins with the usual ducking and dodging of boats and the timing of a dip that managed to get us past Wynella on the wrong side. Well sailed Glen. But it was a tester of a run and most of the boats stayed out in the middle and dived across to Robins late in the peace. But we managed to get back our place and arrived at the top in fourth again.
We made Robins comfortably with most of the boats not too far away, but our task was simple.. point the boat at Addison and enjoy the ride. A starboard pole of course and no one managed to get near us, though by the time we got to Addison, the fleet had tightened up and there was a bit of argy-bargy which had one yacht moving off to do a spinny to clear the protest flag being waved at them. Back up to Robins and we noted that Swiftsure Saga had decided to go right into Heathcote, either it was going to be a winner or not. As we went around the mark, the three in front were setting their line for Como and we had the pleasure of the Div. One fleet passing through us on their second lap. Got a couple of decent photos too.
By now, we had a decent breeze with 15 knots on the bottom and topping out around 21 knots. Fun and the boat was responding well. But what was that waving from the start box.. a shortened course.. but for who? The Div. Three boats were beginning to fold up their sails and as we watched Mariner approaching the finish line another hooter sounded. Yup, that's us over and done. Well actually no.
The engine refused to fire up and with the jib down, I was asked to take the helm while the regulars tried the various fixes they knew of. Eventually the result was clear, we needed a tow in. The rescue boat was called for and shortly we had a line on and they took us home with a bit of jiggery pokery to get the boat down to where we live. Many thanks to them for their help and the rest of the H28 people as we made our way down the pens.
Over the line: Mariner, Corella and Alma
On handicap: Alma, Mariner and Wynella
Well done Ralph, that was the first win for the summer season. And many thanks to Conor Nicholas senior coach, who stepped into the role of sail admin to get the results up as well.
Some of the photos today were supplied by Guy Gibson from the bow of Wynella. Keep it up please!
Yes, its been a while and may be a bit fragmentary for a period yet.
I received a call to join Nerrima for a cameo run on the mainsheet with a couple of regulars (Greg and Christina) doing the trim and the legend himself Les Brooker on the helm. We had a full deck of boats joining the H28 fleet and 7 boats were aspiring to make their mark on the river.
A run outside to see what the breeze was doing with the seabreeze making its way in to cool the river off. It was light to begin with at around 10 knots, but the starters had no reason not to offer a course one and thankfully they didn't send us up the Canning as that might have made one or two of us blink.
"Which end" said Les; clear air or join the crowd on the pin end. We has Alma and Wynella on our tail and the other four, Corella, Mariner, Swiftsure Saga and Anna playing the crowd at the pin. Not too bad a start though for pure speed it was Lockie and Brian just getting away, but we were doing fine and led the rest into Sampson, ready for the run up to Print. We rounded well and Les tucked himself in behind Lockie with Brian taking the lead. Kept going too, as we had good height and the boat felt fine.
Ready for the tack over to Print with Alma coming in from way out on the left as he had elected to tack off to avoid the bad air from the fleet. A little bit of tacking and dodging and around we went with a comfortable gybe that set us up for a pole on starboard. Up it went and I will state that Nerima's spinnaker pole is longer than usual. Hard to manoeuvre around.
However, it got us down there, but we couldn't keep Alma out and he managed to get inside us on the mark. Bugger. Down to fourth. Then the work up to Robins with the usual ducking and dodging of boats and the timing of a dip that managed to get us past Wynella on the wrong side. Well sailed Glen. But it was a tester of a run and most of the boats stayed out in the middle and dived across to Robins late in the peace. But we managed to get back our place and arrived at the top in fourth again.
We made Robins comfortably with most of the boats not too far away, but our task was simple.. point the boat at Addison and enjoy the ride. A starboard pole of course and no one managed to get near us, though by the time we got to Addison, the fleet had tightened up and there was a bit of argy-bargy which had one yacht moving off to do a spinny to clear the protest flag being waved at them. Back up to Robins and we noted that Swiftsure Saga had decided to go right into Heathcote, either it was going to be a winner or not. As we went around the mark, the three in front were setting their line for Como and we had the pleasure of the Div. One fleet passing through us on their second lap. Got a couple of decent photos too.
By now, we had a decent breeze with 15 knots on the bottom and topping out around 21 knots. Fun and the boat was responding well. But what was that waving from the start box.. a shortened course.. but for who? The Div. Three boats were beginning to fold up their sails and as we watched Mariner approaching the finish line another hooter sounded. Yup, that's us over and done. Well actually no.
The engine refused to fire up and with the jib down, I was asked to take the helm while the regulars tried the various fixes they knew of. Eventually the result was clear, we needed a tow in. The rescue boat was called for and shortly we had a line on and they took us home with a bit of jiggery pokery to get the boat down to where we live. Many thanks to them for their help and the rest of the H28 people as we made our way down the pens.
Over the line: Mariner, Corella and Alma
On handicap: Alma, Mariner and Wynella
Well done Ralph, that was the first win for the summer season. And many thanks to Conor Nicholas senior coach, who stepped into the role of sail admin to get the results up as well.
Some of the photos today were supplied by Guy Gibson from the bow of Wynella. Keep it up please!