Put Yourself in this Picture Bring on the Nationals Lake Macquarie February 2011

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1 Put Yourself in this Picture Bring on the Nationals Lake Macquarie February 2011 Page 1

2 Queensland Careel Committee Paul Trotter ( ) Michael Yeates ( ) Inside this edition Front Cover 2010 Nationals on Lake Macquarie Message from the Editor 1 Careels to Clontarf by Michael Yeates 2 Terminator Action on Lake Samsonvale 6 Christmas Dinner 10 Up and coming Events 11 Message from the Editor This has been another great year of Careeling. The situation has evolved in Queensland with more boats racing and less boats doing weekend cruises. Its just a sign of the times I m afraid with my kids in high school and no time but a single Sunday to squeeze in a sail on Lake Windshiftalot. Nevertheless the racing has been good with The Nationals, Bay to Bay, Wivenhoe Marathon, Clarence State of Origin Class and the State Titles. Our fleet is just getting faster and faster with regular competition on the great Lake Samsonvale. In this newsletter I have included the Lake Samsonvale Logo to promote this great lake and venue. The people are friendly, the venue spectacular and lake very full. Stay tuned for the half year diary over Christmas as I plan to go out of sync for six months so we alighn our times with both the CCYA in NSW and the LSWSA. Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year and it was great to see such a big turnout to the annual dinner. Moreton Bay Captain CCYA Paul Trotter Page 2

3 Careels to Clontarf... November After days indeed almost weeks of heavy south-easterlies with showers (that most often didn t come or were no more than a nuisance), the forecast for our Redcliffe cruise was for possible showers but better news, an E-NE breeze of knots... and so it was that the crews gathered at the Cabbage Tree Creek public ramp at around 9am... there was Craig Knowles S7 Blue Eyes, Don Marshall s C22 93 with Trots and Cookie as extras and three C18s, Shane Hall s C18 86 with Fay as crew, Paul Dwyer s C solo sailing and finally on the water after much detailed work, Paul Jackson s beautifully restored C18 92 The Byrd with Michael Yeates as crew. Given the direction of the breeze wasn t too helpful to us with a strong incoming tide to slow us down, it was decided that rather than Raft-Up at Redcliffe, we would head New Boat The Byrd - Paul Jackson Page 3

4 around Otter Rock then into the delightful beach at Clontarf for lunch. The usual non race took place with the S7 and C22 sailing off more or less together for a while (but not racing) until they split tacks with the C22 eventually rounding Otter Rock mark well ahead of the S7 whose mum and dad crew were enjoying their first sail together on their own without their regular crew... their two very young children. Meanwhile not far behind, Paul D was out of the Creek first of the C18s followed by The Byrd and then the Hall s but then the Hall s headed back in. The two C18s continued to head for Otter Rock for a while in close company then with a big split tack with The Byrd heading for less lumpy waters while Paul D headed far out to search for stronger breeze and/or less tide influence. Somewhat surprisingly, however, when closing in on the Otter Rock, the two C18s were almost together with Paul D slightly ahead... possibly The Byrd even may have been in front... but not for long... and close by was the S7 which then headed for Clontarf leaving the two C18s to stage a minor tacking duel. Actually it was more of a tactical decision duel which was easily and very competently won by Paul D when The Byrd tried to catch up by rounding the mark a bit too close and the tide did the rest... necessitating several more tacks (with Paul D kindly watching on nearby having rounded the mark beautifully) before we both set off on a broadish reach in company (but not racing) to Clontarf. Once anchored just off the beach, lunch and a drink, and a walk... and some hurried alterations and additions with shackles and spare bits of stuff were made to make life a bit easier on The Byrd while others had lunch and Trots and Cookie apparently drove off... to appear later back at the launching site to invite us for a drink at the QCYC. The two big boats headed back first and were next seen packed away on their trailers...! The two C18s however had set sail first doing a little matched windward (not racing) before the long broad reach - run home where again despite not racing nor being very close, both C18s ended up within a few boat lengths... then headed into Cabbage Tree Creek with The Byrd intending to sail to the pontoon but as always seems to happen, at the last minute we got hit by a sudden gust and had to pull out, drop the main and motor in. All in all it was a great day... cloud cover reduced the heat and glare but not the burn... it Page 4

didn t even sprinkle let alone shower... and the breeze was ideal... and to top that off, The Byrd survived as did its skipper... first day out all day as the skipper.

5 didn t even sprinkle let alone shower... and the breeze was ideal... and to top that off, The Byrd survived as did its skipper... first day out all day as the skipper...! However, as most will remember (except those who have had a Careel so long they forget), being the first time, it took a long time to unrig, sort out and pack The Byrd for her journey home... the invite for a drink at QCYC hopefully still stands... for next time...! This photo shows the non-race committee and non-measurer/s (Trots and Cookie) and new owner (who came to have a look at how a C18 is put together) surveying and admiring The Byrd as Paul J begins to rig C which it has been decided now has the unique number C18 92Q. See Below... This previous photo shows The Byrd under sail out on the Bay with Redcliffe (Oter Rock is there) in the distant background... not sure why the jib is flapping... no guesses please! We do however keep wondering where the other Careel owners are and whether they know the enjoyment they are missing...! Michael Yeates C Dolphin... Page 5

6 Google Map of Part of Lake Samsonvale The Marathon Course was Counter Clockwise with Rounding to Port Marks are mostly labelled and you can follow the race blow by blow as per the following article. The start is in the middle of all those dotted lines and North is up the page...enjoy! Page 6

7 Terminator Action on Lake Windshiftalot! Lake Samsonvale Marathon Sunday 14 th November We went to Lake Samsonvale to participate in the 2 nd Marathon for the season and we were up for some interesting conditions. Out at the lake we had the following C18s C18 / 156 Therapy - David and Margaret Dowling C18 / 121 Ivana David Cook (solo) C18 / 26 Wyuna Paul Trotter (solo) On arrival the lake was like a mirror which was surprising because it was blowing down at Sandgate. The scene was set for a battle between two boats that resembled a scene out of terminator where both machines were throwing each other through walls in the hope of eventually prevailing! We had the whole monohull fleet out for the fun and at the start there was almost no air. I positioned Wyuna close to the middle of the line and Therapy elected the outside mark and Ivana went past me going the wrong way with less than a minute to go! For the first time for ages I nailed the start and had a good lead as we headed south east towards C mark and I maintained this lead on rounding. Ivana and Therapy were all over eachother in battle. The next move was to sail north around the island up to a mark way up the North Pine River. This involved initially hardening the sheets and maintaining the wind on port. I approached another little island near the power lines and tacked to starboard having pointed very well but Therapy elected to go around the other side. I lost my cover. Cookie in Ivana followed me. On coming around the island I had increased my lead but Therapy was a clear second followed by Ivana. We could now see the windward mark and had to sail close to the northern shore and this is where I made my first big mistake. I should have stayed out wider but sailed straight into a hole! Thankfully Therapy did the same! I rounded the windward mark well ahead and then made my way south back to the clubhouse. That s when the wind died and shifted from the North East to the North West. Page 7

8 I was stranded only to watch both Therapy and Ivana get there own personal zephyr from the North and they proceeded to eat me alive. Therapy came down and passed me to windward with his own momentum but Cookie in Ivana was too far back to get me. On being passed by Therapy I elected to take a wide berth of the eastern point to get some more air but this manoeuvre failed with Therapy pulling further away. We then had our first tacking duel in the light NW airs back past the club house. While I didn t lose any further ground, Therapy maintained her lead to H mark and then tacked late to Port to follow the only ripple on the water as we headed south towards the grave yard. We followed on rounding but couldn t reel him in. Now the wind came in from the South west and in almost no air Therapy pulled away again to my frustration. I went below and raided the biscuit supply and looked back while munching away to see that Cookie on Ivana had a dummy spit. The beers he was having from the start were talking and he d had enough! While looking around I noticed a couple of Kats coming up on the western side of the lake and noticed a line of ripples. So that s where I went and found the new wind and started making progress and got away from Therapy with the wind dying again from the North East. On rounding the graveyard mark the wind settled a little and then began to build from the North East where it should have been blowing from all along! We had had the wind from all quarters during the morning. Therapy then rounded and I tacked to cover him and away we went back up the lake with Therapy on my leeside and I m pointing higher. We are now both destined for the lee shore and Therapy tacks as he has run out of room. I decide to press on with more water available thinking I may make the lay line to sail east back past the club. That was my third mistake! I changed my mind and tacked to port back towards the club and got the lift as we approached the shore. Therapy had got the lift earlier and then tacked back on starboard. I elected to tack early on his lee bow and we charged back on port until we both cleared the lay line for the club! I tack first, Therapy tacks on top of me! We pass the club with only a boat length between the boats with Therapy ahead again! Damn he is hard to kill! I yell a profanity at Cookie as we pass the club and he had Ivana up on the trailer with gardening on his mind! As we pass the club heading east we can bear away down to C mark on a reach with lots of minor adjustments but I can t reel him in. I m determined to catch him! Page 8

9 After rounding we then had our second tacking duel. Every time he tacked I d tack or was it every time I tacked he tacked! We reached the lay line to B mark which is just south of that Island and he still had the lead. We must have tacked about half a dozen times in quick succession which is not easy when you are sailing solo I can assure you. As I looked ahead I thought Therapy may not lay the mark and there was more wind further to the east. I took a gamble and kept sailing wide and Therapy didn t tack to cover! I found the wind, picked up speed and then was able to bear away towards the mark. As we approached B mark Therapy and Ivana were neck and neck again and I was to windward. Therapy could demand room to get around the mark and would have me trapped on the wrong side of him on our final run back to H mark. That would be bad news as he had a whisker pole and crew! So on rounding I loosened the sheets to let him pull away a little and sat on his transom as we rounded. He put out the pole for the run and I broke away sailing south and out towards more wind so I could approach H mark on a broad reach. Initially I lost a lot of ground which had me worried, but again it paid off. As we converged at A mark again our boats were neck and neck! As we approach H Therapy changed the approach and downed her whisker pole and I pulled ahead for a moment. Then I made my forth major mistake by not luffing to windward to clear him. But this would have given him the inside run on the mark which I was not keen to grant him. Then by some miracle, but I suggest some sound tuning by Dowling he pulled ahead to windward and then managed to yell back at me that he d broken the over lap! BUGGER!! He rounded H mark for the final beat and one tack back to the finish line opposite the club house. I kept low of him but in the end both David and Margaret were just too good! After about three hours on the lake they finished only 18 seconds ahead! Spectacular racing and I was well pleased with my solo efforts. It s all looking good for the Nationals and congratulations to the Dowlings on a well conducted race! This crew just never says die!! Page 9

10 Christmas at the Brighton We had a great turnout for the Annual Careel Christmas dinner at the Brighton Hotel on Saturday 27 th Novermber. We booked a table of 20 and we filled it up with the Halls making a special appearance from the Tweed. They also camped at the Trotters for the night before their ill fated voyage. We had the following couple and families Marshall s C22 Cloud Nine Trotters C18 Wyuna Cooks C 18 Ivana Yeates C18 Dolphin Dowling C18 Therapy Halls C18 Kimbee It was a very civilised affair and we were all tucked in bed well within the constraints of bed time! No damage done! Page 10

11 Notice of Event 15th 16th January 2011 Lake Windshiftalot host a two day sailing regatta When two many wind changes are never enough Come join in the fun! Lake Samsonvale Non-Members of the LSWSA should contact Paul Trotter to arrange access to the lake Notice of Event Sunset Sailing Lake Samsonvale 29th December 2010 to 2nd January 2011 Cookie and Trotter will find themselves on the lake after lunch exploring, racing and stuffing around. Its great in the afternoon seabreeze with some magnificent sunsets Page 11

Cookie Storms Careel 18 Nationals

Cookie Storms Careel 18 Nationals Page 1 Queensland Careel Committee Paul Trotter (0409 061603) ptrotter@bigpond.net.au Michael Yeates (0415 892 237) michael@yeatesit.biz Inside this edition Front Cover