Author: TVSC

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Class Champions Day 3

We’re racing this coming Sunday for day 3 of our shortened summer championship series. We’ll be racing until March with six racing days, of two races per day. If you miss a day, it won’t affect your score with two drops.

Briefing at Midday (NSW Time). (Registration links are further down)

As a reminder, we will need volunteers for Duty Officer, Safety Boat, Time Keeping and Race Officer for one-off days during the season. Training will be provided. Please note your availability here. (These roles are not restricted to just skippers, anyone can volunteer.)

The current roster is here.

Skippers, please register for Day 3 here.

If you’d like to crew and don’t have an arrangement with a skipper, leave your details here, and a skipper may get in touch. Skippers, please consult the list of the available crew here.

We’ll be hosting the Queensland Laser Association’s River Titles on Sunday, the 27th of March. Laser sailors, as a TVSC Member, you’re allowed to race without needing to join the QLA. The Notice of Race and Registration is available here. We will need volunteers for this day to help with timekeeping, safety boats etc. If you’re interested in helping, then please add your details here.

Finally, we have ten Corsairs attending the Big River Sailing Club‘s Annual Regatta on the 26th and 27th of February. Some boats need extra crew, so if you’d like to come along for a fantastic weekend of sailing, then please leave your details here. (Free camping!) No experience is necessary; you’ll learn a lot on the weekend!

See you Sunday.

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Gusty Squals Bring Excitement to Day 2

Sunday the 23rd brought the promise of a great day’s racing but La Niña had other ideas. High tide and 15 knots from the southeast was promised (and promising) but gusty squalls blowing in would cause some mayhem through the fleet during the afternoon. Local Tweed Valley sailors turned up with 5 lasers, 3 corsairs, an X3 and an NS14 to be joined by 4 NS14s from the South Brisbane club.

A good start line was set facing the sou’easter but on the sound of the gun (pipsqueak hooter?) a few of the visiting NS14s were seen to be some way back from the line, possibly being more used to 5-minute starts than our 3-minute ones. However, all advanced up the river towards to windward mark while a few crew were observed to be having trouble keeping the boats upright along the way. One lost its skipper overboard but had the crew still in the boat and sailing away from the skipper in the water. Eventually, both crew and boat were happily reunited.

Free Spirit and No Sweat

Mark, Marg and Hollen in the Corsair “Keen As” (mustard – you have to see the colour of the boat to get the name!) had a good start and lead the corsairs around the course, opting not to fly their kite and keep their runs lean and mean. Kynan had a great start in the Lasers along with Peter and Kate and was looking good going up the track to the windward mark before the gusty squalls caused a few thrills and spills.

Monique in her laser “Rolling Stone” had a capsize just before the start but recovered well to work her way through the fleet to 3rd of the lasers before having some main sheet issues limiting her ability to compete in the fleet.

A rain squall hit towards the end of the first race causing many capsizes in the NS14 and Laser 4.7 fleet, with the race officer deciding discretion, was the better part of valour and sending the fleet back to the riverbank to wait it out. A few boats ventured out for an unofficial 2nd race to enjoy some relatively balmy conditions for another circuit of the racetrack. Mark in Keen As pushed Peter in his Laser up at the second start while Monique tried a port end start to gain some advantage but didn’t get any real benefit except for the racing experience of knowing when not to try that. Guy, Erik and Daniel in the second Corsair “Squirtie” had a slower start but kept the pressure on Mark and the crew in Keen As around the track.

Ari in the lone X3 pushed through most of the first race in fine style and showed he wasn’t daunted by turning up for the second race raring to go. Dave and Hugh on the lone catamaran screamed around the course, often on one hull and seemingly out of control but always managing to keep it vertical more than horizontal while taking a lot of tacks to get to the windward mark.

The NS14 crews agreed it was a challenging experience but we are sure all will benefit from braving the conditions when they next wet their boats. Later in the day, two NS14s from South Brisbane Sailing Club ventured out again with some older ballast to assist in keeping them upright in the slightly calmer conditions.

It was also noted that at least some of the crews were listening at the briefing where we discussed the importance of taking a penalty (doing your turns) if you infringe the rules. As our PM said, “Rules are rules!”. Guy admitted after the race to doing a turn after getting in Ari’s way (and taking on a cockpit full of water due to an imprecise gybe and tack) while yours truly did a turn for a wafer-thin tap of boom onto the mast of the demonstrative Kate in Bluey.

We return for more fun and mayhem in two weeks time. Also, remember that the QLD/Northern NSW Laser River titles will be held at Fingal on March 27. If you don’t own a laser, beg, borrow or steal one for the day for some great competition.

Words by Peter Fell

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Class Champions Day 2.

We’re racing this coming Sunday for day 2 of our shortened summer championship series. We’ll be racing until March with six racing days, of two races per day. With two drops, if you miss a day, it won’t affect your score.

Briefing at Midday (NSW Time). (Registration links are further down)

As a reminder, we will need volunteers for Duty Officer, Safety Boat, Time Keeping and Race Officer for one-off days during the season. Training will be provided. Please note your availability here . (These roles are not restricted to just skippers, anyone can volunteer.)

The current roster is here.

Skippers, please register here.

If you’d like to crew, and don’t have an arrangement with a skipper, leave your details here and a skipper may get in touch. Skippers, please consult the list of the available crew here.

See you Sunday.

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The Mighty Tweed River, Where Sailors Become Legends (In their own mind – ed)

A  classic summer day 25-30c and average 10kts NE, gust and shifty welcomed back all the members for the first race of the Summer Championship 2022.  

The fleet of 11 boats with 21 sailors managed to sail out the busy boat ramp and head to the start line. The wind direction swing from NE to E back and forth made the start line set up a hard challenge for Bryan in the safety boat. (Thank you heaps for your help Bryan). 

Some of the fleet heading off in the smooth water.

The race started!  Shouts of STARBOARD!! WATER !!! Oh, how I’ve missed this lovely place and the TVSC family. Unlike Covid, most of the fleet did not spread out and both races were very close.  Leading the fleet were the two Hobie 14 Cat Rigged (without Jib), Naked Again (Yours Truly) followed by Lion from Southport Yacht Club with only a 0.52sec difference across the line. Not too far behind were Laser’s Splatter (Lex Branch) ahead Monique on `Rolling Stone`, then the 2 NS14 only 15 seconds apart Impulsive Matt (Melissa Le Roux, Craig Foley) and No Sweat (Adam Andrewartha and his son.) The first corsair across the line was Cyanara skipped by Doug Haig. If this first race was tight, hang on for what comes next… but before I have to mention how graceful it was to see Craig setting on leeward (opposite side to where the wind is coming from) while Melissa tries to bear away and they almost capsize. Nothing like sailing with someone for the first time.

Is that Igor sailing the wrong way?

BANG !!! The second race started. STARBOARD!!! the start line looks even worse when the wind swings more to the North, however, the gusts coming from the East were stronger and more constant. Once again the Hobie cats reach the top mark first as it should be but with a change in the lead. Now Lion had a great start ahead of Naked Again, some people argue that he had a false start, but no protest had been made to the race committee. Lion kept the lead for the whole race finishing it in 31:11 minutes. Change in the lead also happened in all the other classes. Now focused, No Sweat was 28 seconds ahead of Melissa because Craig was tired of hiking.  While on the lasers Rolling Stone was warm and ready to take the lead of Splatter. John Morgan using the laser ConditionZulu for his first time was under 2 minutes behind the other lasers. Well done!  Now in the Corsairs Squirtie (Guy Forrester, Erik Naumann and Tom Arnette) took the lead of Cyanara by 29 seconds with Keennas (Mark Reynolds) a few minutes behind.

John’s first time on a Laser and first time sailing in over a year!

Wow! What a great start to the short championship season, smooth sailing, beautiful day, close races, cold beers and annoying powerboats…heaps of them. We also have the results on yardstick thanks to Kate. 

View the results here.

See You next race on the 24/01.  

Ps: Please volunteer to help on the next races as I gotta keep racing to keep my lead. 🙂 

Thanks, Dave for volunteering to do the Time Keeping!

Igor Prado and NakedAgain (Hobie 14)

Photos by Ben Jarvis.

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Class Champions Day 1 and Sausage Sizzle Catch up

We’re racing this coming Sunday for day 1 of our shortened summer championship series. We’ll be racing until March with six racing days, of two races per day. With two drops, if you miss a day, it won’t affect your score.

After the racing, we will get out the BBQ and have a sausage sizzle/catch up.

Briefing at Midday (NSW Time). (Registration links are further down)

We will need someone to be the timekeeper on the day for scoring. If you’re available, then please contact Craig on 0413 052 898.

As a reminder, we will need volunteers for Duty Officer, Safety Boat, Time Keeping and Race Officer for one-off days during the season. Training will be provided. Please note your availability here so that we can organise a roster. (These roles are not restricted to just skippers, anyone can volunteer.)

Skippers, please register here.

If you’d like to crew, and don’t have an arrangement with a skipper, leave your details here and a skipper may get in touch. Skippers, please consult the list of the available crew here.

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A Shortened Summer 21/22 Championship

We want to resume regular Sunday racing every second Sunday from the 9th of January 2022. The intention would be to hold two races, with every race day considered a Class Championship day through until the end of the season, near the end of March. We would then have a short break before getting into the 2022 Winter Season!

We will send out further details of the day the week before, but at this stage, since it’s been so long since we were all able to race together, we’d like to finish the day with a sausage sizzle/catch up after the racing.

There won’t be any Juniors Christmas Holiday Program as we do not have the Instructors available to run the course at this time. We hope to have regular Juniors running before Easter with an Easter Holiday program too. Juniors are welcome to race with us in their division or crew with available Adults.

Those NSW Juniors who have NSW Active Kids vouchers expire on the 31st of December. If you want to use them for sailing, then please submit them ASAP so that we can redeem them.

We will need a Duty Officer, Time Keeper, Start Boat and Safety Boat operators for the shortened season for each day. Skippers, if taking one of the roles means that you cannot race, we will still award you points.

Please provide feedback on this Survey to nominate days that you might be available for roles.

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Fresh Conditions for the Last Sailing Day of the Year

Nine boats took part in Sunday’s race of two laps from Fingal to the motorway, with ideal conditions of an incoming tide against a fresh southerly wind.

Peter Fell led the single-handers all the way to the finish, with Lex Branch never getting in contention after an unfortunate pre-start capsize.

Doug Haig beat Peter Ross by a boat length in the Corsairs with Michael Grace
putting in a credible performance. Geoffrey Colwill and Aron in a club Pacer had to finish on just his jib having capsized on the last lap.

Dave Robinson on ‘The Gambler’ revelled in the strong wind, winning the multi-hulls!

New member Perry completed the race on the club laser 4.7 Tippy Too.

See you all in the new year for hopefully our first NSW/Qld combined fleet race for a shortened summer season.

Word by Bryan, photos by Gail.

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Racing this Sunday, before the holiday break

Racing is on this coming Sunday, the last day before we break for the holidays. There are no juniors in the morning, though competent kids are welcome to join the sailing in the afternoon.

At the moment, with the border changes coming after this weekend, Qlders will be able to race in the new year, so we expect a shortened summer championship season to start from the 9th of January, with racing every second weekend until the easter break. We will send a separate email with further details, including requests for volunteers for Duty Officer, Time Keeping and Safety Boat operators.

Some of our Queensland Corsair boats raced at last weekend’s Monomasters at Lake Cootharaba. A write up is on the website with some great photos. The next away event will be at Big River’s Annual Regatta on the 26/27th of February weekend, so mark your calendars.

Details for this weekend:

Briefing at midday, (casual) racing from 1 pm. (NSW Time)

Skippers, please register your boat entry here.

Crew are welcome to register their availability here. (Skippers, the list of people looking for spots is here.)

If you’d like to hire a club boat for the afternoon, please check our website’s hire section.

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TVSC Represents at the LCSC 2021 Monomasters

On the 4 / 5 December, 5 Corsairs, 15 sailors and various support crew/family/sailing fans threw tents, guitars, keyboards, ukuleles, sailing gloves, zinc and suncream into the back of the vans and trekked north 260 km to Lake Cootharaba Sailing Club for the 2021 Monomasters.

The kids grow up so fast these days! (You should have kept the L on for the racing, Justin!)
Yawn…white vans…again.

Due to border restrictions, only the Queensland based sailors/boats could make the trip.

Monopoly leads Epic and Keenas around the wing mark, with some other miscellaneous traffic getting in the way.

Saturday’s two races were held in 8-12 knots and tested who could play the shifts the best and find a clear track through the 81 boat fleet.

Heading out to the wing mark, again, there seems to be other traffic in the way!?!

Sunday, the wind was a lot stronger. Race three was gusting 16knots, and race four was missed by all the tweed sailors who missed the bit on the sailing instructions about when to break for lunch (or more importantly, when NOT to….)

Jason demonstrates alternatives to wearing your hat on your head.
Hollen isn’t looking that keen…

Race 5 was proper blowy, perhaps gusting to 22knots at times; it was a case of who could hold on and not tip (hint, not Monopoly).

Monopoly was back with a new mast…well the “new” mast’s still older than 2/3rds of the crew.

The top 3 Corsairs were the reverse order from last year; Justin, Emily & Eden Johnson took home the chocolates in None The Wiser (802). Andy, Maddie and Kanisha on Monopoly slipped (tipped) to 3rd, and Craig with Scotty and Kate, always the bridesmaid, never the bride got 2nd for the 2nd year in a row.

The very attractive bridesmaid with crew Scotty and Kate, setting up for the bear away.

The big surprise from the regatta was the vast improvement of the new skipper, Jason who with crew Dasha and Alex, was leading races and just proved that time on water = better performances. He will undoubtedly be pushing for a podium finish next year.

Justin finally lets his kids do something on the boat…
The attractive bridesmaid versus the (much) less attractive bride.

Of course, the end of racing didn’t mean the end of the day’s events with group dinners at the pub and a sing-along after…Friday, Saturday and even Sunday night.

Pick the crew member who went to bed shortly after this photo was taken?
We present…”The Beatles” How it’s meant to be played.

With the Queensland Border set to open early, it will be great for all TVSC Sailors from the North and South of the border to be reunited for the start of racing next year. From the looks of the performances of the Queenslanders at the Monomasters, the southerners will have their work cut out for them!

Most on-water photos are credited to Russell Witt. More photos from the weekend are on his website here.

Happy Holidays!

Words by Justin Johnson. Captions by the very attractive bridesmaid.