Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club website: www.rrsrc.com.au
P.O. Box 963 Ballina 2478
Newsletter Items, Idle Gossip, etc to a [email protected] (Deadline midnight Tuesday)
1
CLUB NEWS
Commodore Phill Robbins 0466668541 Vice Commodore Jonathan Horsley 0412798505 Rear Commodore Chris Hallett 0414866998 Secretary Nola Hallett 0414866999 Treasurer Norm Hunt HH 66291366 Class Reps Gennakers – Duncan Dey Catamarans – Col Woodbry Trailers – Ian Michie Monos – Graham Hams Rowing Officer Gerald Anderson HHUU Webmaster Mark Pierce Intermediate Sail Training Graeme Turner
EMAIL : [email protected] WEBSITE: www.rrsrc.com.au FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/RRsailingandrowing/
Perfect start to 2019
22 boats turned up for our first race of 2019 but the Gennakers were the highlight.
Three of our recent Learn to Sail graduates participated in their first race.
Jo and Stephan took out a Pacer and Seamus and Marko’s son took out a Nacra 350.
Congratulations to them for moving to the next level.
A perfect day on the river with lots of action in the Gennaker fleet and lots of river
traffic.
IN THIS EDITION: GENNAKER RACE REPORT – P 2
NACRA NATIONALS REPORT – P4
CLUB NEWS – Defibrillator Training P5
UPCOMING AWAY EVENTS – P6
CREW AVAILABLE – P 6
Newsletter 16 Jan 2019
Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club website: www.rrsrc.com.au
P.O. Box 963 Ballina 2478
Newsletter Items, Idle Gossip, etc to a [email protected] (Deadline midnight Tuesday)
2
FIRST RACE BACK – 13th Jan 2019
Gennakers (by Duncan and Mike. Pictures by Phill)
With the 49erFX, four Formula 15’s, one RS100 and one MG14 fronting the start, it was
something of a record fleet.
Duncan in Casper (read: RS100 = slow boat upwind) crossed on port ahead of the rampaging
fleet on starboard. He then practised in his field of hydrodynamics to beat the tide up the northern
side of the river and stayed with the fast boats for most of the first lap.
A brave port crossing.
Soon after the start, Liam and Ewan in the 49er, Barry and Anna in Secret and Michael and Tara
in Mr Bond broke away from the fleet and started a three way tussle for race leadership which
continued for the whole
race. All three boats at
some stage had race
leadership and it
changed constantly;
with the 15’s showing
more speed downwind
and the 49er taking over
the lead again on the
works. Tacking and
gybing duals became the
order of the day with the
starboard tack
advantage often
becoming the deciding
factor in who
temporarily held the
lead.
Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club website: www.rrsrc.com.au
P.O. Box 963 Ballina 2478
Newsletter Items, Idle Gossip, etc to a [email protected] (Deadline midnight Tuesday)
3
A single error in
a spinnaker set or
dowse or a
poorly judged
approach to the
mark was on
occasions enough
to relegate a race
leader to third
place.
On the last work, the 49er established enough of a ead to sail clear around the top mark and enjoy
an unchallenged run to the finish. Secret and Mr Bond were still exchanging lead positions until
the last tacks into the mark, with Secret rounding first and getting a better spinnaker set to let it
lead Mr Bond across the finish line.
A little further back Bill in F15
Toxic gave Pip, one of our new
Trainees, her first race experience.
Behind them, John and Francine in Numero
Uno had their first run together to see if John
could recover enough of his sailing expertise
to make the Nationals at Port Stephens in a
fortnight.
Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club website: www.rrsrc.com.au
P.O. Box 963 Ballina 2478
Newsletter Items, Idle Gossip, etc to a [email protected] (Deadline midnight Tuesday)
4
Last but not least
were our famous
son and father team
Tom and Brendan
in their MG
Interceptor.
It was a good day
on the river.
Nacra Nationals Report (Geoff Benson)
The 40th Narca National Titles were held over the new
year on the picturesque Wallis Lakes south of Forster,
NSW. Drawn from across the country the large contingent
of boats were divided into 5 fleets sharing the busy race
course. Ballina was well represented with 8 boats
including one of our latest members Ric in his new 4.5.
Competitors of all ages participated from the very young
(sailing Nacra 350s) through to the more mature. Norm
achieved his personal goal of sailing a nationals in his
80th year. He doubled up with Jacqueline for much of the
regatta due to windy conditions. Jacq joined us from Coffs
Harbour and it was great having her back bunking down
with the Ballina mob.
A total of 12 competition races were sailed with the vast
majority in challenging 15 to 20 knot gusty winds. Adding
to the challenges was a steep, short chop (due to the very
shallow sandy lake) and a large amount of seaweed which
required frequent clearing of foils. With between 2 and 3
follow on races per day, sailors' stamina and endurance
were tested with up to 6 hours on the water per day. In the
highly competitive 5.8 fleet the fresh conditions did not
help Chris and Nola as well as Jonathan and Patrick who
are still getting familiar with their new more powerful
rigs.
Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club website: www.rrsrc.com.au
P.O. Box 963 Ballina 2478
Newsletter Items, Idle Gossip, etc to a [email protected] (Deadline midnight Tuesday)
5
Capsizes and breakages were frequent; including Col who lost his rig when a side stay broke;
Nola and Chris had a dramatic capsize resulting in Chris sustaining injuries which put them out of
the racing; Geoff broke a rudder off when a gudgeon broke; and Jonathan required repairs to his
rigging.
The 4.5 fleet get off to another competitive start.
Congratulations to Phill and Col who both got 3rd places and their respective classes (4.5 and
16sq). Importantly, the event was a lovely, friendly environment where all attendees could enjoy
themselves while participating in great competitive racing.
CLUB NEWS We were successful in receiving a grant for half of the purchase price of a
Defibrillator kit, which we now have purchased.
There will be a one hour training session at the clubhouse next Sunday 20th at 11 am.
Please attend if you can so that you are familiar with using this life saving device.
Come early to set up your boat so you have time to attend. You could have lunch during the presentation.
Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club website: www.rrsrc.com.au
P.O. Box 963 Ballina 2478
Newsletter Items, Idle Gossip, etc to a [email protected] (Deadline midnight Tuesday)
6
Upcoming Away EVENTS
(Can members please email the editor any events that they know of at
FASTWAYS CAT WEEKEND – Southport. Friday 8th – Sunday 10th Feb
Big River Sailing Club Regatta - 16/17 March 2019
The Great Race – Southport Yacht Club Holliwell –
23rd Feb 2019
Bay to Bay – 4th / 5th May
Crew Available:
Seamus, an enthusiastic graduate from our last Learn to Sail course, is keen to
continue his learning by crewing on any boat available. Seamus has already
crewed on a NS14, Nacra 5.8 and Spider 550. Please help him continue his
involvement with the club by giving him a place, if possible.
Email his mother Jill at [email protected] if you have a spot for him.
Seamus in the last race on our Nacra 350
Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club website: www.rrsrc.com.au
P.O. Box 963 Ballina 2478
Newsletter Items, Idle Gossip, etc to a [email protected] (Deadline midnight Tuesday)
7
Stephan and Jo enjoying their first race in a Pacer.