Category: TVSC

TVSC News and events

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New Sailors Love the Tweed

Did you see the 20 sails out on the river at Fingal last Sunday? That was your local sailing club putting on a great show in their first regatta of 2019. They also ran a Try Sailing event for adults keen to learn or get back on the water, some after a 20 year break!

Byron Bay family Suzanna, Michael & Lucy Murray drove up to Fingal to take Lucy for her first sail. It may have been over 20 years since Suzanna had sailed but as she said “it’s like riding a bike” and they spent the morning exploring the river on one of the club Corsairs.

Just after the start for the afternoon’s race.

In the afternoon 36 crew enjoyed the racing with some complete beginners getting their first taste of how much fun sailing can be. There were 3 class championships running too.

Adam leading Dave

Firstly The NS14’s who were missing a few key players, so there only 3 boats competing. Just back from competing in the NS14 Nationals Robert Preston took out beginner crew Igor Prado and was only 18 seconds behind 2nd placed Dave Robinson with son, Hugh. First place went to Adam Hurt and junior crew Thomas Busbridge.

Line Honours winner, Peter Fell.

The single handed Impulses, with 4 competitors, had Peter Fell visiting from Brisbane up the front also taking line honours in the monohulls in 74 mins. Tim Brown on Itchy Coo was over 3 minutes ahead of new kid on the Impulse block, Craig Foley on “Woodcraft” and Lex Branch on “Splitter” bringing up the rear.

Most of the Laser fleet were missing today – which gave some first timers a chance. Monique Smith, racing in this class for the first time, on Flying Dragon put up a good fight against hard to beat Kate Yeomans on Bluey. Both finishing middle of the fleet. Dave Condor from Byangum was sailing his laser for only the 2nd time did well in the first 2 laps but slipped a few places in the final lap.

Sledder II is looking for friends!

Only 1 multihull raced – Hobie 16 Sledder. Dave Chester is keen to get more multihulls to race against – in the meantime they entertain the rest of the fleet!

Nimbus, the winning Corsair with Scott on the helm.

The 3 handed Corsairs had a break from their class champ series but still had 6 boats racing. Karen Vidler skippering Club Corsair 107 with Rob Shaddock and Marg Walgers, led the Corsairs for the first leg and had a close race with Scott and Debbie Jones on “Nimbus” with ring in crew & sail maker Matthew Andrews from Ocean Shores who eventually beat Karen to the line by only 35 seconds. Karen will be one to watch for the rest of the series.

Karen’s 11 year old son Kynan Luescher also impressed everyone today – stepping up to take the helm of Corsair “One Too Many” with owners Liz and Michael Grace who are still learning the ropes of their new boat.

Melita III leading Andy on one of the club Corsairs.

Corsair Melita III somehow managed to scrape in at third place. This was despite bringing up the rear of the fleet for the first 2 laps and making so many mistakes, missing course marks and a going back to correct, that they nearly decided to just head to the beach for a swim – the river was so clear and inviting. Skipper Alison Blatcher and new crew Camille Lettieri and Wren Mclean got it together for the last lap and just pipped Peter Ross, Christine Martin and Mark Storrier on “Adrift” at the line, so they swapped the swim for the only close finish of the day.

Bryan on the Safety boat, sponsored by SAE .

Our next race is on the 3rd of February, with social sails this Friday the 18th and the following Wednesday the 23rd. All are Welcome!

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Christmas Party and Winter Series Presentation

There was no racing scheduled on the Tweed River last Sunday, but several boats went sailing and took people for rides.

The club held its Christmas party and Winter series presentation.

The Tweed Valley Winter series commenced on the 20th of May and concluded onthe 19th of August which consisted of 4 handicap point score racesand 6 short course sprint races

All participants including crew are awarded points relative to the boats handicapped position and these are accumulated throughout the series.

The top positions in this year’s Winter series was shared by 3 sailors, Skipper and crew on Corsair Swell Lady; Monique Smith & Matt Andrews, and Corsair Crew, Marg Walgers.

1st Place Marg Walgers, with Bill and Bryan

This year for the first time the sailing club conducted 6 short course sprint races. Each race lasting between 20 to 30 minutes.

This new format has proved to be very popular. All races score points based on class Yardsticks. Points are accumulated to determine the winners.

Winner of the sprint series was Kate Yeomans on her Olympic Class Laser “Bluey”, 2nd was Lex Branch on Impulse “Splitter” and 3rd Adam Hurt on another Impulse “Rosie”

In the juniors, joint winners were Sid Willis, and Taj Kransna, 2nd was Kynan Luescher and 3rd Hugh & Cooper Robinson who share the crewing job on their dad’s NS14.

Next Sunday, the 16th of December, the Tweed Valley sailing club will host its final race of the year, the 2nd Class Champions heat for 16ft 3 handed Corsairs and 16ft Hobie Cats.

The club expects a very big fleet of Corsairs in this very closely contested series, the North Coast Corsair Championship.

Spectators are very welcome and racing starts at 13:00 NSW Time.

Come down to Fingal Head and enjoy a pleasant afternoon on the river bank and watch the race.

Bill Fenelon Tweed Valley Sailing Club Commodore

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TVSC Competes on the Mighty Clarence – record Corsair numbers

Gary!!!

Last weekend nearly 40 TVSC members, friends and family headed south to Big River Sailng Club’s Bridge to Breakers Regatta at Harwood on the Clarence River. The 10 TVSC boats, including 7 three handed Corsairs, competed in the marathon race on Saturday starting in a moderate breeze and sunny blue skies. An hour later, up the other end of the course, the tide was raging and the swell and wind gusts had picked up. One of TVSC’s best sailors, Peter Skinner from Terranora, on Corsair Epic went for a couple of swims with his crew Mark Storrier & Greg Martin from Uki – they were up and sailing again quickly though. Greg was completely new to the sport of dinghy sailing and loved his wild adventure as did wife Christine and son Konnor also sailing on Corsairs.  As they came to the finish line 3 hours later, the sky had turned a threatening black and thunder rumbled close by.  Most of the boats made it to the finish as the rain started to pelt down but two of the TVSC Corsairs, Adrift & Nimbus, had to pull in to the safety of the bank and were welcomed by local prawn fishermen to shelter in their shed until the storm passed… stories of eating freshly cooked prawns and sipping champagne may have been scurrilous rumour.

Ominous clouds in the distance…

TVSC Commodore Bill Fenelon, with junior crew Kynan Luescher from Fingal and Konnor Wheeler from Uki on Corsair 199 Minnow, were the first Corsair to cross the line in the marathon race. Corsair Swell Lady still managed to finish, and in 2nd place, despite their jib sail ripping off the wire. Deborah Flannery was the hero of the day fixing the sail as they continued to race!

Bill with Kynan and Konnor on Minnow

Sunday saw clear skies again and racing started early getting 2 short sprints in before lunch and finishing up the regatta with another longer race in the afternoon.  TVSC’s Dave Chester on Hobie 16 Sledder flew round the multihulls course beating everyone home on Saturday and did well against the Nacra’s on Sunday too until a freak wind shift stole his lead and left him in last place on the final race. He still took 2nd place in the multihulls. Monique Smith won 1st place in the Corsair Class on Swell Lady with Matt Andrews & Deb Flannery with Bill Fenelon’s Minnow coming 2nd. Peter Skinner, Mark and Greg on Corsair Epic took a hard earned 3rdprize – well done everyone.

Mark with Reet and Craig on Keen as.

As always, the weekend provided many stories to entertain us all at the evenings BBQ and memories to last as we look forward to the next Big River regatta next March. Nothing beats a weekend of camping and sailing adventures with friends to clear the cobwebs before we hit the silly season. The kids had a ball too – lots of space to run around together when they weren’t sailing. It was too hard to leave for some of us so we stayed an extra night but it still felt like the weekend was over in a flash. Come and join us for the next one!

Some of the SYC boys camping setup…buy one get five free???

There’s a lot more photos on our Facebook Page.

If you’re the kind of person who likes to pitch in we’d love to see you. Come 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 sails next Sunday from Fingal – fun sail down to the Chinderah Tavern for lunch and back again.  Start approx. 10.30am.  Email tvscmail@gmail.com or call 0434 982 922 for more info.

Next racing at Fingal on Sunday 2 Dec – Sprint Series first race starts 1pm.

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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.

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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). 

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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

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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