28 August 2019 Sad news for CYAA members. Craig Begbie recently passed. Craig s support of the CYAA, in particular the Tumlaren ethos on Port Phillip, is one of the pillars the CYAA rests on. When you next see a Tumlaren under sail, think of Craig. The CYAA extends condolences to Craig s family CYAA 2018 Winter Series Race 5 August 19. Cancelled 2018 Winter Series. End of the road Was hoping in vain someone with higher powers knew more about the state of the atmosphere. What a season! Were the Sunday evening words received from Martin Delves who crews Avian. Say s it all. With four scoring races required by the Notice of Race it was a close call. When the decision to conduct Race four was made who would have known how critical this decision was. Wind strength at the high end of the Classic s safe limit were predicted at the time. Turned out to be the best race conditions of the series. We go into the season with high hopes for an eight race season. After three races, looking good was the word. Then in came the gales and out went the cancellations. From experience we know all our Classic s can handle above top of the scale weather conditions. While it doesn t console anyone, there s always tomorrow is the no race decision driver. Results of Martini not holding back. Always ready to mix it Congratulations to the 1970 S&S 30 Martini. Nothing can be taken away from Ross Clark and Michael Williams for their work to keep Martini in her top racing trim. Never holding back to implement tactical decisions was a key to Martini always racing to the top end of her performance capabilities. With her success at the 2017 Cup Regatta, the 2017 Festival of Sails, the Marie Louise III Consistency Trophy and now the 2018 Winter Series after her third placing in the 2017 Winter Series, Martine is still finding ways to repay both Ross Clark and Michael Williams, for the continual restoration work have put into her. 2018 Winter Series Aggregate and Marie Louise III Consistency trophy scores here.
Congratulations to the 26 strong Classic Fleet of the 2018 Winter Series. The close corrected times results of each race show the skippers and crews on every competing were not out there for a good time. These tight corrected time results are indicative of the consistent support of Classic Yacht racing by the skippers and crews of each entered Classic Yacht. Watching the line honours battles between Kingurra and Frances was an example of the golden years of Classic Yacht racing. Waiting for the results to see how ManuKareRe, Jedda, Akuna and Loama went against the fleet was a feature of each race. There s always someone (An honourable mention). We know from experience, when groups of people are bought together there s always someone, for whatever reason, is an exception in the group. This winter series we had that someone, in our case a Classic Yacht. This honour must go to Cyan. Aside from her usual flying a kite in whatever the circumstance, the stand out exception to the fleet this season was her performance to windward. A beautiful sight. The missing out on race 5 put paid to the anticipation on how Cyan would perform against Martini. Cyan had to finish 7 points ahead of Martini race points to take out the series aggregate. When analysing the group start times and the weather conditions there was the possibility Cyan would be up to the task. A sad day for the fleet when the weather nixed the opportunity to watch a don t back spectacle. 2018 Winter Series aggregate score summary Looking over the remaining result aggregate, Avian s early top end performances paid off. By one point Avian took third place over Kingurra. Cyan situation normal Roger with his prized squeeze Kingurra at work
Following Kingurra s fourth placing was another group with Akuna leading the way over Frances by three points. Let s not the forget the two first on corrected time placing by Akuna. Her skipper Chris Harve` says it s through her consistent Classic racing that made these improvements happen. Next it s the main sheet system, Chris reports. Akuna Frances Tight aggregate scoring was seen between the Tumlarens Snowgoose, Zephyr and Ettrick. This group of three Tumlarens were separated by 2 aggregate points. The Dingo team of Jim Hutchinson and Janet Dean were in the UK for the Cowes Classic Week. Snowgoose Zephyr Dingo Ettrick
More honourable mentions for the Tumlaren fleet While on the subject of Tumlarens let s not forget two champion Tumlarens that featured in the December 10 sailpast last year. Zea and Vahine. With eighty two consecutive years of racing on Port Phillip behind them the 2019 Tumlaren State Championship Title will be conducted at the home of the Tumlaren, Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron Zea Vahine with the late Craig Begbie on the helm Of special mention is a vote of thanks to Greg Phelan for putting together a crew that gave the fleet the opportunity to see Windward II racing again. A Classic Yacht racing sight that made this series one to remember. Windward II Our Dragon Siena had two races. Watching her pick off the fleet as she chased the fleet leaders was a distraction to the other crews who should have been concentrating on their boat. But such worthwhile distraction is the vote. Jamie Wilson provided video s of race action on Siena showed non stop attention to sail trim is the word for racing a Dragon.
Siena With two races each, Corio Vertue came home one point ahead of Fair Winds I. For Corio there s another stint in the yard to chase down those elusive leaks while prep work for the Hobart Festival is happening on Fairwinds. Corio Vertue Fair Winds
Mercedes III returned from her Admirals Cup 50th anniversary regatta racing to re-start her battles with Frances and Kingurra. After some hurried rig tensioning work Mercedes III was ready to compete in race three and four. Her corrected time places were a reflection of her handicap not being in tune with the fleet handicap movements during her absence. Mercedes III Those gales force winds put paid to Loama s winter series campaign. In the two races she competed, Joe Tuck reported Loama was sailed as well as ever but conditions on the day that decided her corrected time places in each race. Bungoona put in a Race 4 performance that told the fleet to never write her off. Using crew from a recent RYCV Sail Training boot camp her skipper Cameron Dorrough reported that everything that should go right did go right. Loama Bungoona
This series saw the first time appearance of the H28 Jedda under the helm of Dave Baskett. Notable corrected time performances saw Jedda come home four points in front of MauKa Rere and Marie Louise III, both on equal points. Jedda ManuKa Rere Marie Louise III
In her only race of the series Scimitar after two mast rebuilds showed no loss of her sharp race edge. Out a a group of fourteen classic separated by 4 minutes 9 seconds of corrected time. Scimitar was sixth in this group. Across the line she was a small 4 minutes behind Frances after 99 minutes of racing. Scimitar Clipper round the world series was the major racing scene for Serifa s skipper Michael Mactavish. Racing with the fleet in Race 4 and her run out to test the Race 5 conditions was all part of her shake down preparations for the voyage to the Hobart Festival. Boambillee with her Race one over the line performance showed she was right on the case of Kingurra and Frances. The line honours battles with Kingurra, Frances and Mercedes III will be on again at Cup Regatta 2018. Serifa Race 2 was Claire s opportunity to show she s is still the boat to watch when up against her usual water line length competitors. Race 2 was no exception. She lead her waterline length competitors home across the line. A feat noted by the handicapper. Claire Boambillee
A feature of Race 3 was the sight of the Yachting World Diamond Rough Cut lining up to compete. This was to be her second outing since being listed on the CYAA register. With use of trapeze based racing allowed by the handicapper, her skipper Chris Warren had Rough Cut all set for a line honours show down. While Kingurra got away from her, Frances had to concede second place over the line to her by 18 seconds after 95 minutes of racing. The handicapper used his experience with watching Diamonds under trapeze with spray flying go surfing past to decide on a safe handicap to avoid surprises. Rough Cut For Renene, the preparation required for her Geelong Wooden Boat festival participation precluded competing in the winter series. The appearance of Renene once again on the start line for another classic race is will signal to the Classic Yacht world. All s Well. What the Race 5 fleet missed. Not to let an gusty wind occasion go the waste, Michael Mactavish took advantage of the conditions to give Serifa a shakedown sail as part of his voyage to Hobart and back. Michaels recent experience of similar conditions for two days while sailing Renene the winning Clipper round the world yacht Sanya Serenity Coast from Liverpool to Portsmouth. With a reefed main and a #2 headsail the boat thumped a bit but with approx 2&1/2, times the waterline length double the beam and nearly 4 times the displacement, compared to Serifa the Sanya powered thru the waves at around 12-15 knots. Easy boat to steer Michael tells us. Serifa Aug 19 11:00am Wiulliamstown to St. Kilda Serifa Aug 19 11:00am Wiulliamstown to St. Kilda All this experience put Michael in good mental shape to take on what Port Phillip was throwing up to potential Race 5 starters. Great fun with two up, both in their young 70 s. Two reefs and 1/3 of the headsail saw Serifa surfing at up to 14.2, knots on a shy reach between Royals and RMYS. Waves as predicted a 2-2.5 metres. And a bit of a struggle to get her to tack was the word from Michael. From 10:30 am when the bullets hit, to 2:30 pm Serifa was on a frolic. To celebrate all this Michael s next task is to have Serifa listed on the Australian Register of Historic Vessels.
Classic s and the 2018 Clipper Round the world series Over the previous months several mentions of Catherine North s working her way on Clipper Sanya Serenity Coast through all stages have been made. As we know winners are grinners. So take a look at a winner. First up Catherine s on the bow in full past the mast celebration mode. Doesn t matter where you are it s always Trim Trim Trim. With the Red Duster watching, we re here to win were the words from Australian. Skipper Wendy Cox to her non stop working crew. And win they did. Some Catherine North moments on Wendy Cox skippered Sanya Serenity Coast. Winner of 2018 Clipper Round the World Challenge Marie Louise III Trophy consistency trophy The intent of this trophy is to recognise the boat who s Back Calculated Handicap is consistently closest to their allocated handicap. The trophy scoring was based on the percentage points difference between each boat s ACH and BCH. The maximum points allocated to each boat was 20. This meant boat who didn t compete in a race was still included in the series. The trophy aggregate points scored are accumulated over a Summer and Winter Series for each year. Once upon a time this trophy points calculation process worked well. Unfortunately the trophy is now the victim of too much of a good thing. That good thing, ie race results with very close corrected times. While these close corrected times are a feature of our series race results the formula used is no longer working as originally intended. What s now happening is the boat that wins the series is also winning the Marie Louise III trophy. The originator of the Trophy, Peter Lloyd, anxious to sustain the ethos of the trophy is working with the handicapper to develop a new formula that will restore the original intent of the this trophy. Let s see what they figure out.
2018 Cup Regatta Intentions to enter have been received from Cygnet and Boambillee. This Cup Regatta is shaping up to be an important showcase of Australian classic yachting. Cygnet will be the first Restricted 21 footer to race with the Classics on Port Phillip. While modified up top, down below under the water, where it counts, Cygnet is still the restricted 21 footer from 1925. Designed and built by the Wilsons of Cygnet. This is the same yard where the Wilson s built Varg, Australians latest International 8 metre, was built. Barrie Baxter skipper of Cygnet has drawn the handicappers attention to the close corrected time between the Cygnet and Altura. Altura is a close copy of the handicapper s A classer Alwyn. How would a Cup Regatta match go? Now listed on the Australian Register of Historic Vessels at the time of her launch Cygnet A portrait the Hobart Mercury reported Cygnet, the new 21-foot restricted class boat built was the second Restricted 21 foot boat using the lines of the first 21 footer, Tassie, took the water on Sunday morning. This beautiful little craft has been named Cygnet and was built by Messrs Tas Wilson and John and Thomas Cowen. The designing and drafting were carried out by Mr. Walter Wilson, 2018/2019 Summer Series The Series Notice of Race and entry form documents are now posted on the CYAA Web site. The entry fee is based on the race conduct fee the CYAA pays to each club. Race 1 is scheduled for the day after the RYCV and HBYC club racing season opening day. First day of Daylight saving. At this time confirmation from Sandringham Yacht Club on their conduct of Race 4 is yet to be received. Don t let those symptons of not racing your classic get to you. If you can handle a four race Winter Series mess then you in good shape to handle the 6 weeks. SCHEDULE of 2018/2019 SUMMER SERIES RACES Date Club Start Time Race 7th OCTOBER HBYC 10:30 am Race 1 (Daylight Savings) 14th OCTOBER RMYS 10:30 am Race 2 11th NOVEMBER HBYC 10:30 am Race 3 Start time subject to revision to 11:30 am 25th NOVEMBER SYC 10:30am Race 4 9th DECEMBER RYCV 10:30am Race 5 (PURSUIT) 3rd FEBURARY RMYS 10:30 am Race 6 17th FEBURARY HBYC 10:30 am Race 7 3rd MARCH RYCV 10:30 am Race 8 (PURSUIT)
2019 Festival of Sails Classic Division Trophies Progress on the return by the Digby family of the three Ken Digby 21 footer passage race trophies from 1932 and 1933 can be reported. The trophies are now at RGYC. They will be re-silvered and mounted on plinths for re-activation as perpetual trophies Two trophies will be used for FoS Classic division and the Geelong Wooden Boat Festival Passage race. The third and fourth trophies are waiting on a home. Use as a FoS Classic division Corio Bay series will be recommended. Part of the deal to make the FoS Classic Division a must do event the RGYC will conduct the Sunday and Monday FoS Classic division races in Corio Bay. None of this voyaging to discover new lands sort of stuff. The intent of RGYS and their intention to re-activate of the four RGYC trophies won by Ken Digby with his 21 footer Topsy D is to recognise the contribution of the Digby family towards sustaining the ethos of the era of the Restricted 21 foot design racing on Port Phillip and Corio Bay. For the record. Topsy D was on sold to the Collins family of Geelong. The Ken Digby trophies at RGYC with Stuart Dickson V Comdr. RGYC and the handicapper Ken Digby Trophy Inscriptions Ken Digby and his Topsy D crew at RYCV And there s more Ken Digby trophy sleuthing work by Ann Crisp and her brothers Evan and Brian Digby, unearthed in Brian s Digby home in Eshowe, 150 Km north of Durban in South Africa, the Williamstown Sailing and Punt Club yachtsman race of the year 1932/1933 trophy. So from being the pride of the Digby mantle piece, this trophy has grown wings and via Ann Crisp in Q ld it will land at the feet of the handicapper saying Take me home where I belong The Williamstown Sailing and Punt Club The plan is to approach the Williamstown Sailing Club to re-activate this trophy for use as a connection of their club to the CYAA. The Ken Digby WSPC trophy Time to stop. Summer Series and Cup Regatta news will be posted as it comes to hand. Cheer up Only six weeks we live again. Tempus Fugit Regards to all Peter Costolloe CYAA (Vic) Handicapper Tempus Fugit for sure It s chocks away for the Williamstown Cee Plane as she prepare for another buzzing of the fleet. Hands up those who haven t been buzzed. Nobody?? That ll be right.