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Audi Winter Series
Ladies Day Final
Great day on the Harbour but handicap too big to make a real impression, we did w3eel on the first leg to get up to most of the boats who left before us only to be overun by the Sydney 36's and sports boats. No mistakes from Barb or crew and a great BBQ finish. Lets look forward to the summer series of racing.
Race 11
Firstly we have to congratulate Greg Maughan and the crew from Syonara for a great series win. Today even with out a win was one of the reasons we go racing, the best crew work we have seen all season and we made some really smart decisions. The spinnaker runs were great and we showed with a bit of wind and a few long beats how competitive we are, if not for the carpark we all ended up in at BH1, I think we could have easily ended up with a first instead of of a third. However the result gave us a creditable 6th place overall and a reason the come back for the summer. Thanks again to a great crew and look forward to more sailing together, next week is the ladies day race the final one for Winter, with the crew and Barb on the helm I expect we should do well.
Race 10
A little wind, then dropping away at finish, enjoyable sail only one mistake in Gybing too early for the SP mark causing a second Gybe then a bit slow with getting the spinnaker down resulted in a 6th instead of a 5th place. the front runners were always going to win with a reaching start folled by dropping breeze heading to Lady Bay. Hornblower didn't help matters much, so next week we need to beat Stormy Petrel home by 2 places to confirm 6th place.
Race 9
It would be nice to say we got a place but what about that Spinnaker peel, did I say what about that Spinnaker peel, well done everyone, with such a short race and little to no wind we sailed as good as I can remember. Yes we we were beaten by boats that generally will always sail faster in light conditions but we made them work for it and again featured in the 4 fastest around the course. Hopefully we can see some decent wind before the end of the series to really see how we have progressed. An enjoyable day even without a podium. The first leg up to GI was a winner picking up some of the front runners again the eastern side of the course in light air is the optimum course, then passing BH1 and staying in the wind allowed us to catch the rest of the early starters by SP it was definitely a tactical race. I think it was interesting that not staying close to Steel point on the 2nd last leg was the course on the incoming tide, something to remember.
Race 8
Race 8 will forever be known as the Rock and no not the movie, apologies to everyone suffering this week with bumps and ribs, your skipper will not be doing that again I can assure you he will be very careful. The unplanned stoppage did not really affect the placing that was a combination of handicap and a rather pesky Flying Tiger (protest) pending. We sailed well but still need more horsepower downwind hopefully the new kite for light conditions will help. This has not been a great season for us due to the light winds and handicapping but the positive side is a strong crew and I think the chance for a few of the Harbour trophy events in the upcoming summer.
I think we may still be able to end up in 5th if we can get a few good results for the final 3 races and must congratulate Syonara on a well raced series.
Race 7
Normally I would say Damm no wind, if you look at the Race report archive you will find a lot of references to SineWave's lack of light weather performance. Today that changed the A-Crew managed 4 spinnaker hoists in 5 legs of a short course, Chris and her helpers probably thought they spent the whole day packing kites. With the wind shifting up to 180deg and at time4s stopping completely no mistakes were made by the crew, the only bad leg was to the first mark at GI, on reflection I am still not sure what course was the winner, when looking back WaveDancer caught us but Witchdoctor on the same side of the course went backwards. The mystery surrounding Akela was solved when the results arrived with OCS against her name, she started before us. well done we are still in 6th and need a few more good results to get the next boats.
Race 6
Damm, Bring back David, probably our worst race, your skipper made some horrendous mistakes especially at the finish when we decided to go deep allowing Syonara and Brigus to get past us. The now obvious choice was to take the early port tack to Shark Island on the lift, this combined with not keeping the spinnaker up to SP on the first leg was costly, lets hope the handicapper takes note.
Race 5
Race Five of the Audi Winter Series 2009 commenced in 10-15 knots of easterly breeze with a full course being sailed on course B and the breeze was the most consistent yet of the Audi Winter Series.
We had an excellent start and a good beat up to sow and pigs, overall we sailed with few mistakes and of the series boats we sailed 2nd fastest around the course, the 5th place was disappointing and was entirely due to handicapping. The tussle with Witchdoctor throughout the day was very satisfying especially piping them at the finish.
To take a hard analysis of our performance we need with your skippers help to improve our tacks and the only three tactical errors I could identify were, not continuing higher at the first rounding of SP to avoid the second tack for EC, a little miscommunication on which spinnaker to set-up for at EC and on the first leg back from GI going a little deep in the harbour. Getting a podium place for the series will be hard unless we get a bit more breeze and the front runners get some more realistic handicaps, but nothing is impossible for this crew. Nice to be back and I am getting the rig checked this week.
Race 4
Race 4
On a day that was more summer than winter, we got off to a great start in a shifting E/ENE breeze. By the Sow & Pigs, we’d caught or were close to the bulk of our division when Rule 1 was broken – sail the right course! The crew were very generous in sharing the blame for my not heading to the correct EC mark but I have to cop it - as the bloke steering I should have known where I was going. Despite this set back, the crew enthusiasm and great work in challenging shifty winds (especially with the kites – thanks Daphne, “Kiwi” and Cam), meant a great day was had and Sayonara was passed on the last work to the finish. Come back Greg all is forgiven even if you just navigate race 5!!!
David Spencer
David Spencer
Race 3
Race 3
It was a fickle and fluky wind for Race 3 starting in the WSW and ending up ESE. After a pretty good start Sine Wave was picking boats off well until a poor call at BH had us caught heading over towards Mosman allowing Phillips Foot back into the game. After that things went fairly well until called Starboard by a boat from another division that was so far above the Rose Bay mark we couldn’t believe they would carry on and call rather than tack! A 720 later we were on the back foot but had a good 2nd half and gained back several places for 6th. Not our best day but should help the handicap!
It was a fickle and fluky wind for Race 3 starting in the WSW and ending up ESE. After a pretty good start Sine Wave was picking boats off well until a poor call at BH had us caught heading over towards Mosman allowing Phillips Foot back into the game. After that things went fairly well until called Starboard by a boat from another division that was so far above the Rose Bay mark we couldn’t believe they would carry on and call rather than tack! A 720 later we were on the back foot but had a good 2nd half and gained back several places for 6th. Not our best day but should help the handicap!
David Spencer
David Spencer
Race 2
Race 2
After what looked like it would be a day of rain and no wind, things got better and better. My 1st week skippering and I was a little nervous but as the weather cleared and a fluky 10-15+ knot SE breeze settled in, we crossed the line at speed only about 10 secs late. Sailing course B, the wind angle meant the day became one of fetches and reaches so there was little rest but it made for fast and fun sailing and with few and only small errors we made solid progress through the fleet. Sayonara always seemed beyond reach but as we rounded GI for the last time we had Brigus firmly in our sights. We didn’t quite get them but happy with 3rd and very pleasing to be fastest boat around the course! Many thanks to Greg for weather routing and tactics and the solid encouragement/stirring from the foredeck kept me on my toes! Great work from all the team!
David Spencer
Race 1
Race 1
Game on, not a lot of wind, our first leg to GI was a good one but skipper then made the wrong spinnaker call for the run to SP we should have used the asymmetrical, the long tack back around the Island started to pick up the stragglers and gave us a view of the leaders, heading up to Lady Bay in a dying easterly killed off any chance of a podium, although the final spinnaker finish and the two gybes to take out Vanessa was pleasing. A good start both for points and Handicap.
Game on, not a lot of wind, our first leg to GI was a good one but skipper then made the wrong spinnaker call for the run to SP we should have used the asymmetrical, the long tack back around the Island started to pick up the stragglers and gave us a view of the leaders, heading up to Lady Bay in a dying easterly killed off any chance of a podium, although the final spinnaker finish and the two gybes to take out Vanessa was pleasing. A good start both for points and Handicap.
Ladies Day
Ladies Day
Wind, yes we had some, starting in 20 - 25 which quickly built to 25 - 30 knots foredeck spent a lot of the day improving there tans as the spinnakers stayed below looking a little nervous. Barb on the helm we had a reasonable start which could have been better if I had called the time a little better as we allowed Superfine to get out in front of us. We then dipped below them and took a long tack towards Athol bay when we met again we were clear ahead, the next tack to cover had a few issues with a sheet caught followed by wrap on the winch, think we lost a minute and allowed Superfine and Double Trouble through at the first mark, the chase was on. A superb Gybe at the JB mark left Perfect Match way back and gave us a go at Superfine. We made up about 150 meters by Shark Island and started to look for an overtake on the next leg, just got over them at the gate only to see the S flag for short course, race over.With good wind and a short course the top results went to the boats starting up to 34 minutes ahead of us in a one hour race. Congratulations to skipper and crew we took 18 minutes of time out of the winner from the start , now looking forward to next week and hopefully flying some colour.
Wind, yes we had some, starting in 20 - 25 which quickly built to 25 - 30 knots foredeck spent a lot of the day improving there tans as the spinnakers stayed below looking a little nervous. Barb on the helm we had a reasonable start which could have been better if I had called the time a little better as we allowed Superfine to get out in front of us. We then dipped below them and took a long tack towards Athol bay when we met again we were clear ahead, the next tack to cover had a few issues with a sheet caught followed by wrap on the winch, think we lost a minute and allowed Superfine and Double Trouble through at the first mark, the chase was on. A superb Gybe at the JB mark left Perfect Match way back and gave us a go at Superfine. We made up about 150 meters by Shark Island and started to look for an overtake on the next leg, just got over them at the gate only to see the S flag for short course, race over.With good wind and a short course the top results went to the boats starting up to 34 minutes ahead of us in a one hour race. Congratulations to skipper and crew we took 18 minutes of time out of the winner from the start , now looking forward to next week and hopefully flying some colour.
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