NSW 2011 NS14 State Titles Winners

Congratulations Hugh and Tara

Club Championship Heat6

What promised to be a lovely afternoon of sailing in 8-10 knots, turned into another light wind sail around the now very familiar "Green Course". Alex Hugh and Dave Alyward managed to get a jump on the rest of the fleet and thats the way it stayed through to the finish. Good luck to Hugh and Tara who are off to Toronto over the weekend for the MG14 State Titles.

Club Championship Heat4

What a difference a week makes and seabreeze got it wrong again. What was meant to be a lovely 12-15kt Southeasterly turned into a wet, windless afternoon. For many of the NS14 fleet just getting to the start line in time was difficult enough, and don't even try and talk to Danii about getting back to the club, after the race.

Salty Lips hogs the camera

Sunday, MTs heat2 at Hunters Hill Sailing Club and the cameras were out in force. Every time I pointed my camera, Scott and Holly had managed to park their boat "Salty Lips", right in front of the lens. Yellow boat, show pony stuff, but boy can those two sail.

Metropolitan Trophy (MTs) Heat2

Sailed on Sunday at the Hunters Hill Sailing Club, with the wind blowing at around 20kts and gusts being recorded at 25kts, FUN was the order of the day. Hugh and Taras experience in heavy wind showed early as they disappeared into the distance leaving the rest of the fleet to fight it out between them. Scott Day on "Salty Lips"was seen trying to fly, while Tim on "Dark Horse" had a little mast problem and retired hurt.
I was told that the course distance was around 22kms so those "smaller" crew members that hung in there deserved a massive pat on their backs.

Metropolitan Trophy (MTs) Heat1

Sailed at Chipping Norton on Saturday we had everything from Gusty winds, to no wind, to rain, to sunshine, and everything in between and some great sailing. Hugh and Tara took an early lead until Alex and Danii decided to give them a race. Just behind them was another close race between Daves Saltwater, Evolution and Mojo. Malcolm had a guest on board but after the race said he was looking forward to having Alice back in the boat on Sunday for heat2 ;-)

Main Downhaul

There was a question on the forum the other day about the options for a Main Sail Downhaul. I have taken a picture of Alexs and hope this helps. 

Willoughby Shield Heats3 and 4

Hugh took control of the Willoughby Shield yesterday taking out both races. Sailed in a typical Northbridge Northeasterly ranging from no wind to 15 knot gusts, Hugh and Stephen sailed away from the crowded fleet with only David and Char on Saltwater giving any sort of competition. Aiden and Ted had given notice before the race that they were going to be a big threat leading into Easters State Titles but their challenge when pear shaped somewhere up the first beat.........A little more time in the boat boys might be the go.

It was also Cal Andrews first time skippering and along with Maxine as crew for the day they had a blast, except for a little hiccup near the top mark.

MTs this weekend everyone. Chipping Norton on Saturday, then Hunters Hill on Sunday.

The Joys of sailing at Northbridge

These two pictures sum up why we "love" sailing at Northbridge. Perfect one moment, not so the next. Dave, i think you owe the Laser sailor a beer.

"Super Crew" to the rescue

Always ready to do what has to be done to stay dry, Emma ( im not getting wet today ) Breislin, hits the high side to save Dave and Invisible from the drink. Great job Emma.

Club Championship Heat 5

Another day of light wind sailing, all good practice but boy, it must get frustrating out there bobbing around the course. With a bit of wind at the start, Shine, Hairy Lemon and Saltwater made the early moves but Alex worked hard to be second around the top mark behind Dave on Hairy Lemon. Thats the way it stayed for the first half of the race until Alex hunted down a nice puff on the "Zag" reach and pulled away, leaving Hairy Lemon to just squeeze out Saltwater for 2nd.

"Captain Planet" is BACK

After a long absence from the club due to Henrys "other" sailing activites, "Captain Planet" has been passed on to Steph Sheridan for another chapter in the history of the captain. Not sure if Steph is going to keep the name, but great to see the boat back on the water. The boat arrived at the club on Sunday looking as if it had just been unearthed, but a quick wash down and a little "maintainence" and off she went. And it did look good I must say.

2011 Sprint Series Cronulla

Sitting on a rock watching 17 NS14s bobbing up and down was not what i really wanted to be doing yesterday but having decided to climb down a cliff face in Jandals (Flip Flops) to try and get the best spot to photograph a fleet supposedly sailing a "SPRINT SERIES" from.........i thought i should probably hang around and wait (as they were all doing), for the wind to arrive. 
It eventually did and they quickly got in 2 shortish races. The 3rd however turned into a  L  O  N  G    D  R  I  F  T as what little wind there was, died.
Hugh and Taylor gave the rest of the fleet a master class in light wind sailing with Craig Davidson in "Rubber Chicken Rocket Car" !!!!!! 2nd followed by Bryce Edwards in "Tempest".

A helping hand

The fastest Mike went all day, in fact the fastest ANYONE went all day.

The End At Last

Henry Kernots Match Racing Adventure

Henry has just completed his 5th regatta since Live-in, representing CYCA (Cruising Yacht Club of Australia) 

Results so far are....

• 1st Colin Mullins trophy sailing with Evan Walker, Perth
• 1st  2011 Warren Jones International Youth Regatta sailing with Evan Walker, Perth
• 2nd  2011 Hardy Cup sailing with Evan Walker, Sydney
• 1st 2011 Harken Youth International Match Racing Championships, Auckland, sailing with Jay Griffin (see picture)
• 1st 2011 CentrePort International Youth Match Racing Championship, Wellington, sailing with Jay Griffin

Commodore's Cup 2011

Below are a few pictures of yesterdays commodores cup. Held over 2 races, David and Emma (Invisible) mastered the light conditions to win the first heat. In the second Dave and Harry (Hairy Lemon) led from start to finish.