Emergence from Lockdown Sees Rusty A Class Sailors at the Pond
Just like the butterfly metamorphism from a caterpillar, the dedicated A Class sailors started dusting off their big boats emerging from Covid-19 ready for a rusty stoush at the pond for the 2021 NSW A Class State Championship sailed over the weekend of 6-7 November.
Mostly locals, but hey... it is the first state title we have had in almost living memory.
Bruce ripped out the permanent buoys in a fit and produced a lovely NE course for us on the first day. Fine tuned here and there the NE/N/slight W and back to NE kept us all on our toes. A bit of chatter at the top mark heralded a welcome back to normal sailing.
Lots of opportunity to go from first to last in successive races. Some lovely boat swallowing holes waiting to gobble up the unwary and those not paying attention... meaning most of us.
Seventeen races first day in beautiful sunshine, but Sunday started out with a lovely quiet, steady stream of water from the heavens. And even better, no wind. This will be an easy day for the PRO and his dedicated team.
Well one day does not dictate the next.
Sunday started with light rain and it all looked a bit crappy really, wet and no wind. Good time to chat and reminisce.
Then a lightish wobbly NE started developing and we started putting the sails on.
Warren was leading, Ralph second in the series so it was going to be an interesting day. Some other close results to be also sorted out today.
Second day developed to be a lot more interesting with lots of wind shifts, bigger holes, lucky lifts and huge wins by some. Less races, wind coming from all angles and was a nightmare for Bruce and Lester setting the course.
But, we all got through it rather bruised happy.
Ultimately, the top spot came down to a struggle between the swift light water specialist, Ralph and Warren who was easily the most consistent competitor of the day.
As a side note, we developed an agreed adjustment to rule 18.3 in approaching the top mark. As an experiment, this turned out to be generally successful and supported by the competitors with almost
none of the normal top rounding chatter and unpleasantness which can spoil an event. Hopefully, the club will continue experimenting to develop a more refined workable solution.
Lots of thanks to our loyal and active assistants, in no particular order: Dave , Dave, Wayne, Laurie, Barry, Lester and of course our very capable and water tight PRO for the day, Bruce. Everything works beautifully with you guys on the shore.
And, for the podium.
First Warren Norrie (middle)
Second Ralph Hyman (left)
Third Selwyn Holland (right)
Photos: Maurice, Dave, Selwyn
Words: Selwyn
Results
| Pos | Name/Club | Sail No. /Design | Nett | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NORRIE, Warren WMYC | AUS 05 SWORD | 56.0 | 78.0 |
| 2 | HYMAN, Ralph KOBSC | AUS 99 FUSE 4 | 61.0 | 84.0 |
| 3 | HOLLAND, Selwyn WMYC | AUS 93 93 | 70.0 | 97.0 |
| 4 | DILL, Brian WMYC | AUS 39 SWORD | 72.0 | 104.0 |
| 5 | MOON, Ronald KOGARAH BAY RYC (NSW) | AUS 91 GUNBOAT | 90.0 | 119.0 |
| 6 | THOMPSON, Allan WMYC | AUS 03 GUNBOAT | 109.0 | 143.0 |
| 7 | SPINLEY, Peter WMYC | AUS 64 PRIVATEER | 113.0 | 145.0 |
| 8 | PAYNE, Andrew WMYC | AUS 105 VENOM | 151.0 | 187.0 |