Everyone must register, including crew, here. (We need to keep records of everyone to comply with our COVID Safe Plan.) Full contact is allowed while racing, with no limits on crew numbers. When ashore, social distancing must be maintained.
Racing will be free.
There will be no time keeping, sign on, BBQ or results recorded.
There may be some crewing spots available for people who are new, so please register and we’ll see what we can arrange. If you want to crew and can make arrangements directly with a skipper, then please do so, before registering.
Some of the X3s may be available for those without a boat, but some experience. (If you are allocated a club boat, come earlier than 11am, so that you have time to rig before briefing.)
Juniors are encouraged to race too.
Otherwise, the usual rules apply, as per our website. (Footwear, life jackets etc.)
Fleet numbers are increasing at the Tweed Valley Sailing Club as an almost record number of boats competed in 3 short races on the lower Fingal Reach of the Tweed River.
Look at that breeze!
20 boats and 40 sailors hit the water at the top of a flooding neap tide, with crews expecting a good breeze, but although it was a spectacular winter afternoon, it turned out frustrating for sailing when the wind refused to blow. An occasional zephyr of breeze got boats moving, only to die away and leave the fleet motionless.
Despite the light winds, three races were conducted.
Today’s fleet included 5 Corsairs, 3 NS14’s, and 6 Lasers, joined by an International 470, a Hobie 16, and a unique design called a Goat Island Skiff.
Adam and Tom. Winners of two of the three races.
Although the conditions were difficult, there was still a race on, and the top boat today, winning two out of three, was NS14 Team Adam Hurt and Tom Busbridge. Although they score 8th in the second race. Also, in the winner’s circle, Kate Yeoman scored a 1st place in race 2, and third place in the other 2 races.
The day’s winner, counting all 3 races, was Kate Yeomans in Laser “Bluey”. 2nd was Adam Hurt and Tom Busbridge in NS14 “Flight 24” and third was NS14 “Oner & Offer” sailed by Dave Robinson. All results are here.
Overall winner, Kate, leads Dave around the mark.
In the classes, 6 Lasers raced, with Kate Yeoman getting 1st, Peter Fell 2nd, and Craig Foley scored 3rd.
In the NS14’s, Adam Hurt and Tom Busbridge scored 1st; Dave Robinson got 2nd, while in the 3 handed Corsair class, 5 boats competed; 1st was “Gidget” (Matt Andrews), 2nd went to “Keenas” (Mark Reynolds) and 3rd placed was “Monopoly” (Andy Lamont).
The winning Corsair’s Rudder…looking suspiciously like a Sabot rudder and a little undersized.
Thanks to our rescue boat crew Bryan Townsend and Karen Vidler.
Our long-distance river passage race is scheduled for the 20th of September. Now less than one month away. Starting at Condong at 11 am, the boats will sail the full navigable length of the Tweed River and finish in Fingal Head.
Front Runners in the Tumbulgum Passage in a prior year.
Crew are always welcome at TVSC, and no experience is necessary.
Contact Club Commodore, Bill Fenelon, 0411 123 405
As part of Covid, we don’t have anyone recording formal finish times, but we’ve made an estimate of the finishing order and come up with the following results, based on finishing order.
Sailed: 3, Discards: 0, To count: 3, Entries: 19, Scoring system: Appendix A
If you do not have a boat, then a few club boats might be available. There may also be some skippers looking for crew, but we won’t know that until the weekend.
Sailing returned to the Tweed River last Sunday as the Tweed Valley sailing club hosted a group of members and visitors to a pleasant afternoon of racing on the lower river. This is the first race the club has conducted since easing of Covid restrictions earlier this month.
Impulsive Matt being closely followed by Casper
A 15-boat mixed fleet, consisting 2 Corsairs, 4 Lasers, 2 NS14’s, 5 X3’s, an RS100 and an Int. 420, sailing in a light to moderate Northerly breeze, competed in 3 short races.
Matt and Igor on Impulsive Matt
The fastest boat was NS14 “Impulsive Matt” expertly sailed by top crew Matt Andrews and Igor Prada, finishing first in two races, While RS100 “Casper” sailed by Duncan Dey scored 1st place in the final race.
Scott and Debbie on Nimbus
Close racing was experienced in the Corsairs, now sailing 2 handed to allow social distancing, with Corsair “Keenas” (Mark Reynolds and Marg Walgers), winning 2 races and Corsair “Nimbus” (Scott Jones and Debbie Jones) winning the third.
Mark and Marg on Keenas
In the single-handed Lasers, the finishing positions were unchanged for all 3 races, with 1st place going to Peter Fell, 2nd Kate Yeomans, 3rd Craig Foley and 4th Tristan Pofandt. This was Tristen’s first race in a Laser and at 14 years of age he has stepped into this highly competitive Olympic Class.
Craig on Condition Zulu.
Also sailing a single Hander, and visiting the Tweed from the Richmond River Sailing Club, we welcomed former Byron Shire Councillor Duncan Dey, from Main Arm. Duncan sailed his high performance RS100, a difficult but fast single-handed boat which features a spinnaker.
Duncan rounding the bottom mark.
Duncan is a very competitive sailor and pushed the front of the fleet to score a win in the final race.
In the X3’s, TVSC Junior Sailor, Kynan Luescher from Fingal Head won all 3 races.
John and Melissa having a quick chat?
Earlier this week a number of TVSC members travelled to Brisbane and sailed on the Tallship, Sail Training Schooner, “South Passage”.
The Sail training association vessel has been forced to abandon its regular annual program travelling North for the winter, and is giving local people an opportunity to enjoy sailing on this magnificent tall ship on Morton Bay.
The Tweed Valley Sailing Club is now open and conducted casual racing.
Our next sailing day will be Sunday the 26th of July.
We are observing the NSW public Health Order (COVID19). Attendance at events must be registered and we request intending participants to book.
