Sabre News - February 2012

After four heats sailed it looks as if three skippers are in with a good chance to take out the 2011-12 Club Championship, with Laura Baker (8,DNF,2,3,) Greg Warner (2,4,3,1,) and John Gratton (1,1,1,5,) all closely placed in the series so far.

Also Laura (26pts) and Greg (38pts) are the leading Brighton skippers in the State Championships which have one race to go (resail heat at Brighton on 17 March). Currently Somerton's Craig McPhee with six wins and a third (9pts) appears to have a stranglehold on the title with Adelaide's Mark Soulsby in second spot on 22pts.

Rob Gale recently took some time out from his busy mid week sail training schedules to help Chris Juttner sail his big boat Wild Goose back to Adelaide from Tassie where it had been located for last three years or so.

Word is that Tich Timmermans has finally bit the bullet and actually ordered a new Cliffo sail to replace the original and well used (ie flogged out) sail on Dilligaff, while John Rumpff has recently picked up a new one from Cliffo.

Good to see Mike Davy sailing his boat Cut Loose at Brighton on recent weekends, after spending some time at Adelaide Sailing Club. Mike is new to the sailing game but he looks to be gaining confidence with every outing.

On the new boat front Dave Belford's new YMS hull has been finished and is currently getting some fittings put on by Brett Young at the yard. Dave has already got his spars and sail organised, so he should be all set for next season.

CLUB RACING

4 February

7th State Heat / Trophy Race: YSA State Heat Weekend 3 was held at Brighton with the seventh State Heat programmed to be sailed on the Saturday, in conjunction with the club Trophy race, followed by Heats 8 and 9 to be sailed back to back on the Sunday. A light W-SW seabreeze greeted the 31 starters, with light northerlies forecast for later in the afternoon. The start was the subject of a general re-call with heaps of boats OCS, however the fleet got away OK on the restart with Dean Francis picking the right path up to the first mark to round ahead of Laura Baker, John Lawson, Bill Tucker and Mark Soulsby. It became a long slow race and by the end of the second triangle Laura had gained the lead with Dean dropping to second spot. Some skippers may have thought that in the prevailing light conditions the race would be shortened at the bottom mark however the C flag was not raised by the PRO and the race went the full distance. This allowed John G. time to work through into the lead by the start of the second loop and get the gun from Laura, Mark S. and Dean F. Bill Tucker had a good day out getting a 10th in the State Heat and getting a win in the club Consistency Race.

Consistency Race placings:

1. Bill Tucker
2. Colin White
3. Ken Smith

Fastest: John G.

State Heat placings:

1. John Gratton
2. Laura Baker
3. Mark Soulsby

5 February

8th and 9th State Heats: With 25-30 knot SW winds forecast to remain until late evening Bruce Noble and his race committee wisely abandoned all racing for the day. Heats to re-sailed as per SSASA programme.

11th February

Fourth Club Heat: Only 18 starters in the Sabre class fleet for the combined Fourth Club Heat/Consistency Race. Laura B. was on fire again working the shifts nicely in the S-SE breeze to lead the fleet at the first mark rounding with Dean F., Francis Watson, Peter Leader, Graham Small and John Cobb all not that far behind her. Laura held the lead for most of the race until eventual winner Greg Warner came from nowhere to hit the front by the end of the last loop. Greg held his nerve and sailed a good final leg to win in a close one from Dean F. with Laura securing third. Rob Johnson had a successful day out, winning the Consistency race on points while John C. sailed a good one to get seventh across the line.

Club Heat placings:

1. Greg Warner
2. Dean Francis
3. Laura Baker

Consistency Race placings:

1. Rob Johnson
2. Greg Warner
3. Dean Francis

18 February

Trophy Race / State Heat Resail: 22 starters in the club Trophy race, with seven visiting Sabres turning up for the State Heat resail. Unfortunately the light seabreeze had shifted more to the south after the course had been set and you had to be on port tack to get across the start line. Craig McPhee led the fleet at the first mark and then at every other mark to convincingly win the heat by a handy 4min 47sec margin. As for the rest of the fleet Mark Soulsby, John Gratton, Dean Francis and Peter Leader traded places all afternoon for the minor placings in the resail race, while John Rumpff sailed well to take out the consistency points in the Club race.

State Heat placings:

1. Craig McPhee
2. Mark Soulsby
3. John Gratton

Consistency Race placings:

1. John Rumpff
2. Tich Timmermans
3. Bob Abercrombie

25 February

Fifth Club Heat: With a hot 39 deg. day and only light variable northerly winds forecast you wouldn't really expect to get a race in at Brighton, and we didn't!

Bye for now,
1698

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