Fremantle Sailing Club Inshore Summer Series

Race 17 Saturday 13^th April 2019

The first taste of wintry weather did not deter twenty-two boats from taking to the water last Saturday in the penultimate Consistency Race of the FSC Inshore Summer Series. An “Interesting” course selection of Course Fourteen (light Westerly, matching conditions before the start) made for equally interesting sailing angle calculations on subsequent legs as the wind increased and veered to become a heavier North North Westerly.

Eight boats raced in Division One with three boats over the line at the start – Witchy Woman, The Cro Connection and Zubenubi (sporting flash new graphics).  Witchy came back and restarted but Zubenubi and The Cro Connection failed to return and were scored an OCS.  Just to be sure Stimulus Package restarted too, although they didn’t need to.  There was tight racing in the fleet with The Cro Connection, who sailed a great race, vying for line honours just metres behind Aquila.

On the second to last leg Aquila made a poor set choice, expecting to gybe, but the wind shift meant it was just a bear-away. The poor foredeckie had to swap the spinnaker setup on a short leg, which was insult to injury after a Chinese gybe earlier on the similar short run.

On IRC Handicap Eric Gath’s Stimulus Package took first from Graeme Martin’s Sand Crab’s Disco with Roger Passmore’s Aquila third and fastest.  On TCF Handicap Paul Huhtala’s Gumboot IV took first from Mick Gillum’s Panacea with Stimulus Package continuing their good form in third place.  Aquila was fastest.

Eight boats raced in Division Two where, unlike in Division One, they got a clear start with Windswept sailing well away from the fleet.  Despite the heavier conditions, Minke tried a full main when they’d normally reef and nearly overtook Aquila and The Cro Connection, despite the Division One boats’ head start and longer course (Windswept beat Aquila over the line).  On IRC Handicap Ernie Delfos’s Windswept took first and fastest ahead of George Carter’s Eufarria with Steve Delfos’s Minke in third place.  On TCF Handicap Eufarria was first ahead of Brian Cooper’s Valkyr with Windswept fastest, but six seconds adrift, in third place after the handicaps were applied.

Six boats signed on in JAM Division but only five finished the with Jane and Steve Laws’ Ambience recording a DNS.  Franco Pieri’s Medusa took first on TCF Handicap with Peter Cochrane’s Raya in second place ahead of Ole Otness’s The Longboat (also fastest).

Results were announced back in the Sailor’s Bar by Inshore Captain Brian Cooper and the pennants were presented by Rear Commodore Sail Connor Moran (and thanks Connor for the inside information on the race).  Thanks as always to our Race Control Crew who braved the wintry conditions on Success.  Full results are available on www.sportspage.com.au.  Thanks also to Chris Bender for his photography (a full set of Chris’s photos are available on One Drive).  Racing returns on ANZAC Day for the ANZAC Cup with Consistency Race 18 / Championship Race 7 on Saturday the 27^th.

Race report by Frances Hammond and photos by Chris Bender