State Titles - Heat 3,4 and 5

Saratoga Sailing Club 26th and 27th November 2005

Report from the weekend - full results sheet here

There's just something about Saratoga on the Central Coast. I don't know whether it's the extremely large rigging area available, but not accessible due to 22 guys in white shouting "howzat" at regular intervals. I don't know whether it's the open water that is virtually vacant, making it somewhat easier for skiffies that are use to dodging ferries, yachts and hoon boats. No, if there is one thing about Saratoga that never ceases to amaze - its ability to turn on the rain!

Just about every skiffie could say they have never seen the dirt driveway "dry", just the mud pools that make you wonder if you are going to get your car out again.

Last weekend was no different, awake Saturday morning to rain "oh we must be sailing at Saratoga", there was however a change, the rain cleared and the cloud lifted leaving a blue sunny day…..with no wind.

The fleet all went big rig, with 1/3 of them missing the start due to the lack of breeze. Off the start they worked into a NNW'er to the top mark, rounded first by Micheal Spies on Sirromet, then Garde and Havoc. The leaders stretched for the wing mark as the breeze swung to the west, with the mid fleeters having to down kites to make it. The conditions on the course lead to an almost unbelievable separation of the fleet, the leaders getting to the bottom mark before some had even reached the top mark.

James Francis on Havoc and Michael Spies in Sirromet pulled further away from the fleet up the 2nd work and down the next kite run, which then became a work as they struck a SE'er. The rest of the fleet became stuck in the doldrums in between the SE and NW breeze and bunched up. Around the bottom mark, kites were set to take the SE'er half way to the top mark, before going through the doldrums again and then picking up a NE'er as it began to filter through. Another 2 laps with the breeze remaining like this, NE'er at the top mark, SE'er at the bottom mark, and nothing in the middle! Confused? Bet the skiffies weren't either?! Luckily for the skippers, most of the crews were on the front tank and weren't paying attention, otherwise it could have been chaos.

The NE'er eventually won and built up to a nice 2nd rig just as the fleet crossed the finish line, with Havoc in the lead, followed by Sirromet and Gemmell Sails getting coming from no where to steal 3rd. Handicap was taken out by Julian Moran on Rudog, with The Boat and Yacht Store (BAYS) 2nd and Holt Marine 3rd.

Awake Sunday morn to rain again! Yep, another day at Saratoga! This time the rain did not ease up, but this time there was wind! When a southerly comes in at Sara, the place is a fantastic sailing location and this one was no exception! A majority of the fleet went a 3 / 4 combo in rig selection, which ended up being the right choice, with 2 short races, the first in 20knot 3rd rig and the second race in a 25+ knot 4th.

The driving rain and the fact that southerlies are hard to judge from the club had some considering 2nd rig. Walshy, who decided to show everyone the wind reading of 37 knots at Sydney Airport, quashed this theory.

For the first time in a month, a 12ft skiff race was held in something other than big rig conditions. Everyone was excited to finally have their boats leaping out of the water once again, this was evident by the multiple hoots and shouts of joy heard coming from the boats during the kite ride to the start line.

Sunday race 1 saw Nick Press and Brad Yabsley in Yabba Dabba and Murray Press and Ben Gemmell in Gemmell Sails open a big lead after the first work. 3rd place was hotly contested by the majority of fleet with Gizmo and Roadkill fighting for that position at the first bottom mark rounding.

Yabba was uncatchable on the second and final lap. Nick must have been glad Yabs turned up on time, allowing them to take the win from Gemmell sails with Brett Hobson and Alex Johnson in Garde sneaking in for 3rd.
Handicap honors went to Jacob Ronowicz and Scott Hill on Breaking Wind, with BAYS 2nd and Lantern Rouge 3rd. The "Well Played" award was won by Wolfie from Foxy Lady Too, whose only words as Ben vomited all over the two of them as they went up hill were "do you want me to hold the main sheet?"

The breeze kicked a bit for the second race of the day, Garde got out to an early lead at the top mark from Woof and Yabba Dabba. Yabba grabbed 2nd place and preceded to reduced the gap to first, down the 2nd kite ride, but Garde held on for a narrow victory, with Michael Bochner and Cameron Mcdonald finishing 3rd.
Handicap was won by Sirromet, BAYS 2nd(again) and Geotherm 3rd.

No matter what they say about the weather in Saratoga, it is a fantastic place to sail!