Big fleet contests sprint races in hot conditions

20 boats with 37 crew raced on Sunday in the Tweed Valley Sailing Club’s 2nd sprint race series, comprising 3 short races of one lap each. Joining the regular fleet were three “Division One” Juniors boats competing in their own race this year for the first time in the club’s history.

Mauri enjoying the heat on Vickie II

It was a hot afternoon on the river, with only a light breeze and a strong tide running, plus the small sailing boats had to contend with numerous Jet skis being driven through the fleet at high speed.

Just after the start of Race 1 (Division 2)

The racing was extremely close with the first finishers separated by only seconds, and several dead heats which are very rare in sailing.

Highlight of the day was the Juniors races. With Race 1 being won by Manly Junior team, Kynan Luescher (Fingal head) and Aron Colwill (Uki). Then Race two saw a determined effort from Uki youngster, Konner Wheeler sailing a club Sabot, coming from behind and won this race by a respectable margin. This was only the second time a junior’s fleet has competed with the club, and with this group learning the skills over the past years racing in the senior boats and morning training sessions, we look forward to some intense competition in this division.

Kynan and Aron on the MJ.

In the Senior class, all 3 races came down to a very close tussle between Laser “Siesta” sailed by Great grand Master, Gary McCrohan, and NS14 “Mantana,” sailed by semi- professional sailor, Matt Andrews with junior Rigby Andrews (NOT Related!) Gary is always a top competitor and, in the past, scored 2nd in the World Championships in Rio, in this highly competitive Olympic Class, while Matt Andrews was sailing an NS14 for the first time, with crew Rigby Andrews, also a first timer in this class. Club NS14 “Mantana”, showed it had boat speed to burn, and Matt is likely to be a very strong competitor in this class this season. Between the two boats, Siesta scored 1st, 1st & 2nd, while Mantana scored 2nd, 2nd & 1st.

Gary finishes just in front of Matt and Rigby.

The remaining fleet competed strongly with all 20 boats finishing within 5 minutes of the first boat.

Six boats competed in the 3 handed 16ft Corsair Class today; fastest was “Minnow” (Gunnar Scholz & Layla Scholz), 1st, 3rd & 2nd;  second “Capers” (Geoff Colwill & Anderson Sanders) 3rd, 1st & 3rd  ;  third Keenas”(Mark Reynolds, Craig Foley & Tara Gough)  4th, 2nd & 1st while fourth placed was “Melita 3” (Alison Blatcher Marg Walgers & Marcela Willis) Melita looked set to win race 2 but stalled just short of the line and dropped to 4th place as all boats finished within 10seconds.

Siesta in the Lead

Seven single handed boats competed, split between 2 Lasers, 3 Impulses 1 Sabre and 1 “X3”. Fastest was Laser “Siesta” (Gary McCrohan) with 3 bullets, second Laser “Vickie 3” (Maurie Meyer) , and 3rd was Impulse Itchy Coo (Tim Brown)

A 4-boat fleet in the Two Handed 14ft monohulls; NS14’s MG14’s Tasers and 125’s, was won by NS14 Mantana (Matt Andrews & Rigby Andrews) scoring 3 bullets, second went to MG 14 “On & Off” (David Robinson & Hugh Robinson) and third to Taser “Hippocampus” (Mike Mansted & Imogene Mansted)

Gunnar and Layla at the finish line.

There were several family teams racing; Gunnar Scholz and daughter Layla sailed Corsair “Minnow” and were fastest in this class; Scott Jones lead his team with partner, Debbie Jones and daughters Caitlyn and Sahara sailing Corsair “Nimbus”; sailing 4 up, placed Scott & family back in the fleet, but Scott is a serious sailor and Nimbus is a good boat. We will see Scott win races with the club this year. Mike Mansted sailed with daughter Imogene in 14ft Taser “Hippocampus”, and David Robinson sailed with son Hugh is MG14 “On & Off”.

Next Sunday the club gets back to long course racing with the first heat of the 14ft Division, NS14 Class Championship, as well as the Single Handers Class championship, the club is expecting to see a large and competitive fleet.

Oh Look!  It’s Gary again!

New sailors are always very welcome at our club and no experience is necessary to crew. Volunteers to drive or crew the club’s rescue boats are also very welcome.  Spectators are welcome to enjoy the racing in our official tent on the river bank.  Contact us.

Sid’s Mum, Marcela racing for the first time on Melita III

Bill Fenelon

The Corsair Battle Commences

21 boats with 43 crew competed at Fingal Head last Sunday for the first race the season. That is quite something for only the 7th Summer Series of our local sailing club. Even the 40+ year old clubs don’t get that kind of a turn out. So, a massive shout out to all the people who have worked hard to get this club up and running and are now joined by a many others who keep it running.

A typical Sunday morning…

We’re a hands on, everyone muck in kind of a club but as always there are some key members who form the backbone. Our Commodore Bill Fenelon is definitely the stand out here, fixing the breakages that occur in the club’s junior fleet and the seniors club boats and trailers, helping with Junior sailing and always willing to take beginners out for a sail to pass on his passion for the sport.  He hotly contests both the NS14 and the Corsair Class championships every season supporting these 2 important classes of boat which have grown in number at TVSC each year.

Our Commodore!!!

The club now has 16 Corsairs creating a true revival of this 60 year old, 3 handed class of versatile sailing dinghy.

Peter and the Grandkids on Epic.

Eight Corsairs competed in the start of this year’s Northern Rivers Corsair Championship – Monique Smith on Swell Lady, last year’s runner up took the 1st place with Matt Andrews & Deborah Flannery her faithful crew. Close on their tail was “Keenas” skippered by Mark Reynolds providing some serious competition keen for their first taste of Corsair glory. The next four Corsairs were close together. Corsairs Nimbus – Scott & Debbie Jones; Minnow – Bill Fenelon with new crew Alfred Summers and Gunnar Scholz; Melita III – Alison Blatcher, Marg Walgers & Cara Austin and  “Beards Essential” 616 Peter Ross, Mark Storrier and Andrew Jaggers are also in the running.  Full Results are here.

Winners of the first Corsair Race, Monique and crew on Swell Lady.
Beards Essential…

Two Junior skippered boats also competed for the first time – Taj Krasna and Sid Willis in Manly Junior “Deep Thought” competed against Rigby Andrews and Aron Colwill on X3 “Vogsphere”. Both boats finished the tricky course – a good start for their racing careers. This was after they had helped out with Clean up Grafitti Day at Fingal.

Sid and Taj on the MJ. Winners of the junior division race.

Grandmaster Laser sailors Gary McCrohon (Tyalgum), Mauri Meyer and John Hayward were up the front of the pack as usual – Gary took the line honours this race.  We also welcome another grandmaster – Paul Hargan from way out west towards Kyogle is back on his Sabre “Momentary Lapse of Reason” after a five year break. Great to have this high-level standard of sailor mixing with all levels of ability on the water.

Mauri Meyers, second place in the Lasers on Vicki II.

So, if you’re the kind of person who likes to pitch in, come down to Fingal and have a go at sailing or safety boat driving, timekeeping, restoring and repairing boats and trailers or putting together fabulous post sailing spreads of food… there is always something creative to do.

TVSC Juniors Helping Graffiti Removal Day at Fingal

Juniors & adult try sailing this Sun 28 Oct – booking essential. Email tvscmail@gmail.com or call 0434 982 922.

John and Saffron on Scored a Tri!

We’re racing again on the 4th of November with a 1 pm start time.  (NSW Time)

Alison.

First Race this Sunday

We’re trying again for racing this Sunday, after last weekend’s was cancelled. 

First Point-score race of the season and the first Corsair and Multi-hull Class Championship Race and some of the Race Training Junior graduates will also be racing for the first time (short course).

All the information you need for racing + links to forecasts etc is available here.

Briefing will be at midday NSW Time.  (11am Qld time)

Please see the group email sent around for the full NoR.

Racing Cancelled Today

Due to yet more heavy rain forecast for the afternoon, the decision has been made to cancel the scheduled club race.

A bit of a let down for the start of the Series but it is only 7 days until the next race – Corsair Class Championship & Overall Point Score (all boats). 

Women & Girls Fun Day This Wednesday.

If you’re not booked in yet, then please get in touch now.

  • 10am – Meet up at the TVSC Container
  • Watch, Learn and Do – Meet everyone and set up the boats.
  • Then go for a sail or grab a kayak if you prefer or jump on the safety boat or watch from the bank.
  • 1pm approx – Lunch – we can set up a marquee by harbour entrance – BYO cushion!
  • More sailing or chill out and chat until you’ve had enough.

Please contact the club by email now for more details.

Wahat to

Tweed River Passage Race. Sunday 9th September 2018

22 boats competed in the Fifth Annual Tweed River Passage Race on Sunday, sailed in sunny conditions with a variable light Southerly breeze and a strong ebbing tide.

The race started with a light sou-westerly wind and the fleet quickly drifted away from the start at Condong, with all Corsairs setting spinnakers. The breeze came & went; the fleet remained tightly together as they drifted past Tumbulgum, but after winding through the Stotts island narrows, boats started to spread out.   It was a day of light and variable winds which frustrated the fleet all the way down the river until it finally settled down at Chinderah. The final leg along the Fingal reach gave the fleet a steady breeze and an opportunity to set spinnakers and have a fast finish.

The fastest boat completed the river passage in 3 hours and slowest was 4 hours.

 This year’s “winners circle” was dominated by visitors; line honors going to Southport Team, Jabin & Zac Crisp in NS14 1592 “Enter the Dragon”, completing the river passage in 3 hours 6 mins, although it took a long time to separate from the fleet, the freshening afternoon breeze in the lower river, gave them the speed to get ahead and win by five minutes.

Second boat to finish, 4mins 30 seconds behind, was Laser “T”, (Tom Slocombe), from Paradise Point and third placed Laser “Dreadnought” (Peter Fell) from Tweed.

4th was Tweed Laser “Bluey”, (Kate Yeomans) then 5th local Laser, Silent Partner”, (John Heywood).

The Lasers got 7 of the top 8 positions and enjoyed a very close race.

Yardstick Results, First Place went to Laser “ T”, (Tom Slocombe), 2nd was Laser “Dreadnaught” (Peter Fell), 3rd Impulse “Itchy Coo” (Tim Brown),  4th Impulse “Splitter” (Lex Branch),  5th NS14 “Enter the Dragon” (Jabin & Zac Crisp) and 6th Corsair “Swell Lady” (Monique Smith, Deb Flannery and Matt Andrews)   

3 divisions of One Design mono hulled sailing boats competed, which included 12 single handers with results based on yardstick, (8 lasers, 3 impulses & 1 X3) 3 x 2 handed NS14’s and 7 x 3 handed Corsairs with a total of 41 sailors 7 rescue boat crew and 10 shore side support crew.

Single handers; 1st Laser “T”,(Tom Slocombe), 2nd “Dreadnaught” (Peter Fell), 3rd Impulse “Itchy Coo” (Tim Brown), 4th Impulse  “Splitter” (Lex Branch)

NS14’s; 1st “Enter the Dragon” (Jabin & Zac Crisp), 2nd “Zarzan” (Adam Hurt & Tom Busbridge) 3rd “Impulsive Max” (Robert Preston & John Taylor).

Corsairs; 1st “Swell Lady” (Monique Smith, Deb Flannery and Matt Andrews)  

, 2nd Keenas (Mark Reynolds, Craig Foley & Dave Chester), 3rd “Minnow” (Bill Fenelon, Elizabeth Gough & Jacob Loughridge) 4th Capers (Alison Blatcher, Matt Colnan & Adrian Colnan) and fifth Odin” (Daniel Sieders, Andrew Jaggers & Bron)

The Tweed Valley Sailing Club would like to thank all those people wo help out to make this event possible.

The clubs next event will be the first Race of summer season on Sunday the 7th of October.

Bill Fenelon

Tumbulgum Passage Race Postponed

The decision has been taken to cancel today’s Tumbulgum Passage Race and reschedule to next month.
With a combination of severe thunderstorms in the area, and very heavy rain with winds up to 25 knots on the nose in the interests of all who would be involved on or off the water the decision has been made to reschedule the Tumbulgum passage race to next month.

The new date will be 9 or 23 September … and will be sunny with a great breeze.

All the best everyone and thank you to everyone for all their hard work.

Bill Fenelon –TVSC Commodore

Our Tumbulgum Passage is this Sunday, can you help?

Skippers – if you haven’t already done so please RSVP by tomorrow to say if you are planning to sail next Sunday – our catering team needs to know numbers for your free feed at the finish line.

We still need the following…

  • Fingal Set up team – to put tent up and carry chairs and BBQ and tables over to the point
    Timekeepers tent at finish line will be set up early sunday morning
  • More people on the catering team – both start & finish
  • Photographers – ideally to be at the start and follow the race. Tumbulgum bridge is a great spot. Photos needed at end of day. Can save on laptop at finish line
  • Thank you !

See you next Sunday – if you’re not sailing come and wave from the river bank!

More details here.