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The Canberra fleet has been rustled from its winter hibernation. The CYC 15/16 season kicks off on the 6 Sep 15! An excellent spring day in the high teens Celsius is expected. You could not ask for better conditions to test out how the old wetsuit performs and if your svelte season 14/15 self has expanded over the off-season!
The 2014/15 season was the inaugural year for the Weta fleet with three regular sailors and a fourth in the boatpark. Our inaugural champion, Rohan Armstrong (no relative of Lance!), is looking to go back-to-back. Andy Weiss is trying the fit and healthy angle while I am going the “tried and trusted” – “I’m going to regret not doing anything over winter!”
Team Canberra will be at the Jervis Bay regatta, so we look forward to seeing you all there.
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Sunday 13 Sep was the first of the CYC Short Course program. Frustratingly, good winds were forecast for Saturday and Monday with Sunday having a 4-5 knot breeze dying into the evening.
With 860 on duty in the Committee Boat it was again an “America’s Cup” event between 904 and 963. The course consisted of a “triangle and a sausage.” The triangle was completed with 904 having the windward advantage. 904 was the first to tack while 963 decided to bang the layline. This proved to be a mistake and 904 turned onto the home leg with a handy lead.
With the race all but sewn up, the PRO decided to abandon the race! Much to the amusement of the catamaran fleet as it was probably the first time in two years that 904 was leading on the home leg.
The pre-start of the second race saw the breeze freshen a little. 963 and most of the catamaran fleet (Div 4 and 5 start together) positioned for a run to the line while 904 stayed in close proximity. It turned out that 904 was correct as the breeze lightened in the final minute leaving the bulk of the fleet too far from the start.
With a significant early lead it looked like the race was 904’s for the taking. Although 963 made good ground on the final leg, 904 crossed the finish line for a good win.
On the light wind days it is possible for the Weta to give the catamarans a run for their money. Once the cats get enough breeze to lift a hull they soon tend to disappear up front. The shape of Lake Burley Griffen does not generally suit boats with a gennaker/screecher. So a 14 ft cat sitting on the rumb-line tends to have similar VMG to the Weta zig-zagging its way down.
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Round One of the Canberra YC saw 52 boats greet the starter. The regular Weta contingent of three boats attended, although one scored duty in the tower. The forecast high teens turned into 15C with light to lighter breeze/draft! Not exactly the best conditions for the Weta with our modest sail-plan. 904 had a good start and extended to a good lead over 860. However, it was 860 rounding the top mark first closely followed by 904.
A very light patch followed, and 860 showed superior patience and was first to the new breeze and scooted away. After that it was how much was 860 going to win by. On the last leg of the day 904 was able to find a good line to the finishing buoy and made a possible thumping into a modest second. The personal handicaps carried over from the previous season, seeing 904 get the bottle of wine. A compensation for the challenging conditions of the day.
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