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Sail-World Article - Wet And Wild F11 Fun Park At GRSC Finishes Off Flying Season

Wild and wet conditions ranging from 20kts to 32kts could not douse the flames........

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	Wet And Wild F11 Fun Park At GRSC Finishes Off Flying Season 'Start Race 7'    David Price    Click Here to view large photo Sunday 7th February 2010 Georges River 16ft Sailing Club Wild and wet conditions ranging from 20kts to 32kts could not douse the flames at round 2 of the 2009-2010 NSW Flying 11 Championships hosted by Georges River 16ft SC this weekend. This past weekend cracked a few milestones for the fastest growing youth sailing class in Australia; the introduction of a green fleet (latter fleet dwellers, first timers to our regattas etc), the crowning of the new NSW Champions this season and the attaining of the magic figure of one hundred entrants to an Australian made class - something not seen in the class since the nineties when youth sailing was all the rage. Hughie (not to be confused with our Bagdad Bob) dished up a treat for the young sailors on Saturday with a full bodied southerly booming across Sandringham Bay at the mouth of Georges River. Upon arrival at GRSC, you struggled to stay upright as the wind whipped the cherries off the cake across Sandringham Bay at the mouth of the Georges River, the flooding tide gaining prominence as the morning shaped up for a power play day, not something our new Green Fleet were that keen on. Despite the horizontal rain stinging the eyes, tails we wagging and there was a real buzz amongst the open fleet who had recently returned from their national's campaign in Tasmania a few weeks before. RO Hugh 'Bagdad Bob' Leicester's shooting range looked a bit suss' back around in the bay off Monterey with the lee shore becoming the rocks at the end of runway 2. After conferring with Iain Murray and his Race Committee on where best to give it a shot, either out the front of the clubhouse in Sandringham Bay with nice soft sand forming a catcher's mitt for the unwary or sticking to his guns per the SIs, the sand won - despite a shorter work scenario. A great view from the upper level (restaurant and bar area) of the clubhouse too! With such conditions sticking around for the day, the green fleet of over fifteen boats were given a stay of execution for the day with a promise of their inauguration now postponed to Sunday. It made obvious sense as the act of even getting off the beach with the take-off from the lee shore, waves pounding relentlessly, boats having to be held by parents neck deep in the water whilst crews put rudders on and centreboards down was confronting for even the most seasoned. At least the water was a cosy 23.5deg, warmer in than out. Race 5 The start of race 5 was only meters from the beach with all systems go at around 1230hrs. Someone had left the gate open and they bolted twice before 'Bagdad' reached into his pocket and introduced his signature move – the black flag. Under the cloak of darkness, the fleet behaved themselves and we were off for a great start to Round 2 with Hammer Time Sam Ellis and Kurt Hansen B16'SC only a gnat's from the line all powered up at the pin and off to the favoured left side to hook into the tide. The right wingers led by Lethal Blonde Chris Fay and Emma Knighton B16'SC edged around the corner of the bay and along the beachfront towards the St George SC whilst the communists punched into the chop on the left, jumping onto the magic carpet from mid-stream. Many of them underestimated the powerful tidal influence and overlayed the top mark; these latter end of the fleet having to drop down through the leaders now reaching down to the wing mark. At the top mark, Lethal Blonde led from Protagonist Declan Reilly and Ira Dubrey M16'SSC weaving through the fleet overstanders, with Hammer Time, Ace Matthew Mayall, Ninja Nina Long and Mitchell Webb B16'SC and Lucy Marshall ASC and Frustration brothers Shaun and Julian Hannan ASC amongst the vanguard to the wing mark. Protagonist dominated downwind and rounded the leeward mark ahead of their national's rivals Lethal Blonde, with Lethal Blonde immediately gaining more height after the rounding, stealing the limelight once again by the crossing at the beach on the right hand side. Protagonist leading the fleet to the top mark - -  David Price   Click Here to view large photo The wind continued to build, gusting at 30kts plus which cause a few upsets or rather upheavals, shuffling the deck on quite a number of occasions. By the end of a rather quick and exhilarating race 5, the red eyes of Protagonist focused upon the line to take the honours from Lethal Blonde in second place and Hammer Time over in third place. Zephyr Angus Buick and Daniel Nugent M16'SSC put in a glamour performance during the race to sneak over next, just ahead of Bolt Tim Forbes-Smith and Jim Colley ASC with another stellar performance and a PB from Frustration with their sixth place. It was back to the beach and a grab at some lunch whilst the RC discussed the merits of running another shorter than usual race out the front, leaving only one race outstanding for tomorrow, the last day of the series. Race 6 With no discernible reason not to run another in the afternoon, the breeze still pumping in from the south, the RC sent the fleet back out on the water for race 6 again just meters from the beach for a scheduled start at 1530hrs. The parents support crews having had just enough time to drip dry from the earlier race were again in the water doing a great job, many forewarned and half smart donning their Speedos this time to suit the task at hand. Unfortunately, no bikinis were noted in the mix but there was plenty of waving from the girls up in the restaurant and bar areas of the club to support the boy's efforts! Maybe it would be the girls' turn tomorrow. The big stick Bagdad brought out from the earlier race paid dividends and a now mindful fleet commenced the start of race 6 first time in the now 24kts, seemingly a little softer conditions due to the run in tide this time around. No need for a second attempt and once again the fleet split fairly evenly to either side on their work up the river. Stalwart first timers to the top mark Lethal Blonde did it once again just ahead of Protagonist with Ninja working the left perfectly arriving just astern, Checkmate Anna Kendall and Hannah Lanz ASC, Hammer Time and Xlr8 Murray Jones and Harry Morton B16'SC and Frustration making up the next frontier to the wing mark. An assortment of fresh squalls arrived at the same time the leaders did at the gybe mark, bowling the two front contenders over with many of the following crews just lifting off the water with gusts over 30kts. Sparing very little time in the water, the leaders re-emerged from the deep and took off to the leeward mark surprisingly still ahead of the somewhat disarrayed followers, many also finding the gybe difficult and coming unstuck there too. With these strong conditions prevailing, the fleet positions for the leaders remained steady throughout race 6. A steady game of cover and break cover was played out by the sodden crews revelling in the heavyweight conditions, tired and red-eyed but having some of the best rides of their lives off the wind. Even upwind sailing running with the tide produced some impressive boatspeed from the top crews of the Flying 11s. By the turn to the finish, Protagonist had created a comfortable lead to cross ahead of a very happy-faced 1355 Ninja crew and much deserved third place going to a greatly relieved Checkmate who really just had to have some good luck eventually in one of the races this season without some natural disaster to endure. Race 7 Slightly less action was forecasted for Sunday's race 7, the last of the three races comprising Round 2 combining with the four races from Round 1 at Hunters Hill SC in November last year. With a steady 17kts to 21kts from the south, it was probably hovering in the upper ranges for the inauguration of the green fleet but an absolute dream in comparison to the previous day's punch-up on the water. RO 'Bagdad' advised both fleets they were racing on time around and out in the bay as per schedule just off Monterey which meant the crews needed to allow a good 20mins to get there from the clubhouse. With so much space to play with on Botany Bay and after two shorter length races from Saturday, BB went the whole hog and set a maximum length course to satisfy everyone who returned to play out the final episode. Entering the last race, Protagonist had 6pts, Bolt was next on 17pts, Lethal Blonde was sitting on 21, XLR8 on 27 and Hammer Time on 32. Off To A Clean Start Race 7 -  David Price   Click Here to view large photo With the start on time at 1130hrs, Hammer Time flew down the line to the pin, slamming across the start on the gun with Protagonist come from the deep to land right on their transom, both clearing the pack early and heading out to the middle of the bay on the left for more pressure. Lethal Blonde was two-thirds the way down the line and Bolt was up at the boat tacking off to get the lift off the beach. At the top mark, Protagonist had a small lead over Decoy brothers Declan and Flynn Rohr HHSC who were finally able to exercise their demons in the series so far. SS Squill Wil Coxon and Oliver Bell ASC were showing form now in third spot ahead of Slick Nick Williams and Chris Holmes M16'SSC, Bolt and Hammer Time. Protagonist and Decoy went off to the beach for a loose tacking duel whilst the rest of the front runners sailed east to pressure. Nonetheless, Protagonist were around the top mark the second time ten lengths ahead of Decoy, Bolt soon after with Slick and Hammer Time following close by. Around the top mark for the last time was Protagonist 25secs leading Bolt who had taken over second spot from Decoy. By the final beat to the finish, Protagonist had fended off Bolt's attempts at a tacking duel and crossed comfortably to take line honours in race 7 and the crown of NSW Flying 11 Champions for the 2009-2010 season. Bolt claimed second place 9secs ahead of Decoy who snapped third place from the finger tips of Slick just 4 secs astern. The green fleet line honours went to Crash Ride Dominic Ellis and Nathan Illy from Middle Harbour 16'SSC, but the winner of the Green Division being a handicap event went to Sandfly Christie Wellaver and Layne Durrington from Cronulla SC. Overall Results on Scratch 1. Protagonist Declan Reilly & Ira Dubery M16'SSC 2 (12) 1 1 1 1 1 – 7pts 2. Bolt Tim Forbes-Smith & Jim Colley ASC 1 4 4 3 5 (8) 2 – 19pts 3. Lethal Blonde Chris Fay & Emma Knighton B16'SC 3 (90) 10 2 2 4 8 – 29pts 4. XLR8 Murray Jones & Harry Morton B16'SC 6 7 3 6 (94) 5 7 – 34pts 5. Hammer Time Sam Ellis & Kurt Hansen B16'SC 8 1 (36) 14 3 6 6 – 38pts 6. Checkmate Anna Kendall & Hanna Lanz ASC 12 3 (21) 9 9 3 18 – 54pts The NSW Junior Champions were Onya Mark Nick & Sean Connor from Manly 16'SSC, the All-Girl Crew Trophy winners were Checkmate Anna Kendall and Hanna Lanz from Avalon SC, winner of the Veteran Boat Trophy was won by The Cutting Edge Adam Cooke and Taylor Allen from Belmont 16'SC and the Handicap Trophy went to Slick Nick Williams and Chris Holmes from Manly 16'SSC. NSW F11 State Junior Champs Onya Mark Nick & Sean Connor MH16’SSC -  David Price   Click Here to view large photo All-Girl Winner Checkmate crew Anna Kendall & Hanna Lanz Avalon SC -  David Price   Click Here to view large photo Full report and results are available on the Flying 11 website / 2009-2010 NSW F11 State Champions Declan Reilly & Ira Dubrey M16’SSC -  David Price   Click Here to view large photo Protagonist Declan Reilly & Ira Dubrey from Manly 16’SSC -  David Price   Click Here to view large photo 3rd Place Lethal Blonde Chris Fay & Emma Knighton B16’SC -  David Price   Click Here to view large photo Runners Up Bolt Tim Forbes-Smith & Jim Colley ASC -  David Price   Click Here to view large photo   by David Price   11:33 AM Mon 8 Feb 2010 GMT Click here for printer friendly version Click here to send us feedback or comments about this story. If you want to send this story to a friend, please use link below http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Wet-And-Wild-F11-Fun-Park-At-GRSC-Finishes-Off-Flying-Season/66235   Click on thumbnails to enlarge and find more photos: Based on your current download speed Sail-World has delivered large images (660 pixels long side.)  If you would like to see only small images (300 pixels long side) click here .  For medium sized images (500 pixels long side) click here . Our Advertisers are committed to our sport, please support them! This site and its contents are © Copyright TetraMedia Pty.Ltd and/or the original author, photographer etc. All Rights Reserved. Photographs are copyright by law, if you wish to use an image from Sail-world.com, Powerboat-world.com or Marinebusiness-world.com, Contact us . 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Wet and Wild - F11 Fun Park at GRSC for Round 2 Report Races 5 & 6

Gurgle, gurgle, splash, gurgle, splash......... It was a wet one for day 1 of Round 2

Saturday 6^th February 2010 Georges River 16ft Sailing Club

 Wild and wet summed up the first day of Round 2 of the 2009-2010 NSW F11 State Championships, with 20kts to 32kts from the south the order from Hughie (not to be confused with our Bagdad Bob).

Upon arrival at GRSC, you struggled to stay upright as the wind stripped the tops off the steep chop across Sandringham Bay at the mouth of Georges River, the flooding tide gaining prominence as the morning shaped up for a power play day, not something our new Green Fleet were that keen on. Despite the horizontal rain stinging the eyes of the young sailors, tails we wagging and there was a real buzz amongst the open fleet who had recently returned from their nationals campaign in Tasmania a few weeks before.

RO Hugh “Bagdad” Leicester conferred with Iain Murray and his Race Committee on where best to give it a shot, either back around in the bay off Monterey with the lee shore being the rocks at the end of runway 2, or out the front in Sandringham Bay with nice soft sand forming the catcher’s mitt for the unwary. The sand won - despite a shorter work scenario.

Quite regrettably, and as you would have guessed, the full-bodied southerly conditions with a run in tide spelled a stay of execution for the Greenies and we AP’d them for the day with a promise we would have another go at it perhaps tomorrow. With over 15 crews forming the new fleet, it was disappointing to pull the plug on their inauguration event but the sense in the decision was more than obvious. They missed out on the sailing but not on the socialising.

Race 5

The start of race 5 was only meters from the beach, which looked rather easy timing for a late beach start take-off. The only problem was the take-off itself from the lee shore, waves pounding relentlessly, boats having to be held by parents neck deep in the water whilst crews put rudders on and centreboards down. At least the water was a cosy 23.5deg, warmer in than out.

All systems were go at around 1230hrs. Someone had left the gate open and the cattle bolted twice before “Bagdad” reached into his pocket and introduced his signature move – the black flag. Cloaked in darkness, the fleet behaved admirably and we were off for a great start to Round 2 with 1373 Hammer Time Sam Ellis and Kurt Hansen B16’SC only a gnat’s from the line powered up at the pin and off to the favoured left to hook into the tide.

The right wingers were led by 1305 Lethal Blonde Chris Fay and Emma Knighton B16’SC, edging around the corner of the bay and along the beachfront towards the St George SC whilst the communists punched into the chop on the left, jumping on the magic carpet from mid-stream, many of them underestimating the powerful tidal influence and overlaying the top mark, the latter end of the fleet having to drop down through the fleet leaders reaching down to the wing mark.

At the top mark, 1305 Lethal Blonde led from 1366 Protagonist Declan Reilly and Ira Dubrey M16’SSC weaving through the fleet overstanders, with 1373 Hammer Time, 1334 Ace Matthew Mayall, 1355 Ninja Nina Long and Mitchell Webb B16’SC and Lucy Marshall ASC and 1324 Frustration brothers Shaun and Julian Hannan ASC amongst the vanguard to the wing mark.

1366 Protagonist managed to shine on the downwind legs and rounded the leeward mark ahead of their national’s rivals 1305 Lethal Blonde, with 1305 Lethal Blonde gaining more height after the rounding, immediately stealing the limelight once again over at the crossing from the beach on the right hand side.

The wind continued to build throughout the race, gusting at 30kts plus, which cause a few upsets or rather upheavals, shuffling the deck on quite a number of occasions.

By the end of a rather quick and exhausting race 5, the red eyes of 1366 Protagonist aimed for the line to take the honours from 1305 Lethal Blonde in second place and 1373 Hammer Time over in third place. 1388 Zephyr Angus Buick and Daniel Nugent M16’SSC put in a glamour performance during the race to sneak over next ahead of 1391 Bolt Tim Forbes-Smith and Jim Colley ASC with another stellar performance and PB from 1324 Frustration with their sixth place.

It was back to the beach and a grab at some lunch whilst the RC discussed the merits of running another shorter than usual race out the front, resulting in only having to do one race tomorrow, the last day of the series.

Race 6

With no discernible reason not to run another in the afternoon, the breeze still pumping in from the south, the RC had the fleet re-enter the water for race 6 again just meters from the beach for a scheduled start at 1530hrs. The parents support crews having had just enough time to drip dry were again in the water doing a great job, many forewarned and donning their speedos this time to suit the task at hand. Unfortunately, no bikinis were noted in the mix but there was plenty of waving from the girls up in the restaurant and bar areas of the club! Maybe it’s the girls’ turn tomorrow.

The big stick from Bagdad worked from the earlier race and a very well behaved fleet commenced the start of race 6 in the now 24kts from the south, but seemingly a little softer conditions due to the run in tide this time around. No need for a second attempt and once again the fleet split fairly evenly to either side on their work up the river.

Stalwart first timers at the top mark Lethal Blonde did it once again just ahead of 1366 Protagonist with 1355 Ninja working the left perfectly arriving just astern, 1370 Checkmate Anna Kendall and Hannah Lanz ASC, 1373 Hammer Time and Xlr8 Murray Jones and Harry Morton B16’SC and 1324 Frustration making up the next frontier to the wing mark.

Fresh squalls arrived at the same time the leaders did at the gybe mark, bowling the two front contenders over with many of the following crews lifting off the water with gusts over 30kts. Sparing very little time in the water, the leaders re-emerged from the deep and took off to the leeward mark still ahead of the somewhat disarrayed following fleet, many also finding the gybe difficult and coming unstuck there too.

With similar conditions to the previous race, the fleet leaders remained in their positions generally throughout race 6, not separating by any great margins. A steady game of cover and break cover was played out by the weary crews revelling in the heavyweight conditions, tired and red-eyed but having some of the best rides of their lives off the wind. Even upwind running with the tide produced some thrilling boatspeed from the top crews of the Flying 11s.

By the turn to the finish, 1366 Protagonist had created a comfortable lead to cross ahead of a very happy-faced 1355 Ninja crew and much deserved third place going to a greatly relieved 1370 Checkmate who really just had to have some good luck eventually in one of the races this season without some natural disaster to endure.

After six races and with one more slated for the last day of the regatta, 1366 Protagonist lead the points with four bullets and a second on 6 points, 1391 Bolt on 17, 1305 Lethal Blonde 21, 1340 Xlr8 27, 1373 Hammer Time 32 and 1370 Checkmate 36 points in sixth overall.

Pricey

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F11 NEWSLETTER - February 2010

F11s Go Green and more..........

FEBRUARY 2010 In this issue: NSW F11 STATES R2 Update & Green Fleet Introduction F11 Nationals Re-Cap 2010 F11 Nationals 2011 @ Belmont 2011 Instructor and Club Coach Courses Follow Us On Twitter Qld Youth Week 7-10th July 2010 Editors Ramble CONGRATULATIONS 2010 F11 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS DECLAN & IRA More on the sensational Nationals in Tasmania following……….. NSW F11 STATES R2 Update & Green Fleet Introduction  We’re going GRREEEEN for the first time at Round 2 of the NSW State Champs at Georges River SC in a weeks time, 6/7th February. No, its not an environmental push – we are talking a new Green Division introduced to our NSW State Championships to encourage our new, not-so-new and otherwise “no pressure wanted” sailors to join in the fun of our rather social outings (aka regattas). Here’s how it works. ·         Anyone can be a competitor in the Green (Fleet) Division. ·         Round 1 Main fleet (Open Division) competitors can switch to be in the Green fleet for Round 2 at no extra charge – see our Rego Desk; new competitors can enter R2 Green Division for $50. ·         New Entries should be made on-line up to midnight Friday 5th Feb or at the Rego Desk Saturday morning 6th Feb. ·         The Green fleet are awarded handicap prizes only; no scratch awards and will be scored (placed) as finishing after the last boat in the main fleet (presently after 91). ·         The Green fleet will sail shorter courses but on the same track, starting 5mins after the Main fleet have started. ·         The Green Division flag will be a green flag with a white F11 Class emblem. ·         Further information is available via Amendments To NoR No.1 and Changes To Sailing Instructions No.1 Our measurer will be doing his job circulating around at random checking your boats. Please ensure you are all squeaky clean and compliant, including sails (SIs clause 20.2). This means you should read the SIs again perhaps……………..  If you will have a spectator boat on the water during the regatta, we would be most grateful if you could see the Rego Desk and register your details with us. We always strive to ensure the utmost safety of the fleet to the best of our ability and should it be deemed necessary for example in extreme weather circumstances, we may wish to avail ourselves of some outside assistance in this regard. Your assistance will be very much appreciated. We remind any adults who may be volunteering their time during an association event that it is a prerequisite under the Commission for Children and Young People Act 1998 to have completed a Prohibited Employers Declaration (valid for 2 years and applying to any paid or unpaid positions) and lodged it either with our NSW F11 Association or your local club. We recommend all parents consider completing one of these to as simply helping kids in and out of the water may be regarded as volunteering your work etc. Who knows where this legislation starts and finishes. And whilst on the subject of the NSW State Champs, any club may put forward an Expression of Interest to be considered for the hosting of a Flying Eleven regatta. We have a number of processes to determine the appropriateness of each venue, approved waters etc and invite you to also view the guidelines for host clubs to hold a F11 event on our website. Upon the completion of Round 2, we will hold the presentation of the series upstairs in the clubhouse. We will be awarding various sponsors prizes amongst the two fleets, so you would do rather well to all stay around and congratulate your fellow place-getters. Its also most likely for many a decent  break from seeing all your friends until next season is upon us. F11 Nationals Re-Cap 2010  Again, a big congratulations to all our National’s champions; outright F11 Champions Declan Reilly and Ira Dubrey in 1366 Protagonist from Manly 16’SSC, our All-Girl Crew Champions Sammy Nugent and Maddie Clancy in 1327 Cheeky from Manly 16’SSC,  our *Junior Champions Harvey Bates and Ben Bannon in 1301 Frozen With Fear from Cronulla Sailing Club and our Handicap winners Emma and Thomas Willson from Middle Harbour 16’SSC in 1296 Miss Behavin.  The Teams Trophy this year was won by the sailors of manly 16ft Skiff Sailing Club, accumulating the lowest score total from their 3 best crew’s race results. (*Original presentation of the Junior Trophy went to the young dynamic brothers Nick and Sean Connor by mistake on the night – Pricey’s error. They were great sports and we will make special mention of them at the presentation of the NSW States). From our Tasmanian contingent of 8 crews, Clare Cromarty and Natalie Maslin sailing 1307 Beyond The Edge from Tamar YC were the best placed on scratch with Michael Meyer and Jack Melton in 1258 Flying Colours best on handicap.  The 61 volunteers from Tamar Yacht Club can be very proud of their efforts in producing one of the best national regattas we could have ever hoped for. Their hospitality was second to none, the organisation exemplary in every way, and it received such great reviews from the sailing community at large, and greatly impressed the local Tamar Valley community and commerce sector. So much so in fact the West Tamar Council requested the President of Tasmanian Flying Eleven Sailing Association, Bill Cromarty be one of their guest speakers at their recent Australia Day Breakfast. They also managed to meet with Yachting Tasmania during the event to discuss that the idea of working in with the Flying Elevens is good for all young sailors, YTas accepting our class for inclusion to future youth events. All big pluses brought about by the determined membership of the TYC and the F11 committee, leaving the class with a healthy platform to which to grow. Their next round of the Tasmanian State Championships will be held on the 6/7th March at Midway Point Yacht Club in Hobart, where 3 more crews from the local club will join the first round fleet making it a ten boat finale. Good luck to Clare Cromarty and Natalie Maslin in 1307 Beyond The Edge defending their lead after round 1. F11 Nationals 2011 @ Belmont 2011 For those of you who missed the AGM, or have not caught up with the announcement of where the 2011 Nationals will be held………… the winner isssss………. BELMONT 16’SC! Also note it will be a week later than in recent years starting on Sunday 16th January through to Saturday 22nd January. This suits a number of other regatta opportunities for our fleet, as well as the host club’s events calendar. Longy has blasted off the starting line and is already sprinting down the first straight and has secured 30 cabins of various shapes and sizes just 2 mins from the club at the Belmont Bayview Park. All we have to do is mention Flying Elevens and they will sort it out from there! It would probably be a good idea to contact them sooner rather than later if this sparks your interest. Instructor and Club Coach Courses Andrew K has in conjunction with YNSW’s Andrew “Cribby” Cribb have arranged the next round of Instructor Course where you can become one of the pool of instructors assisting with your club and association coaches, learning perhaps more about sailing yourself than you teach at times. We are always looking for more instructors to help out with our own training camps. Our clubs are also seeking regular instructors to further the skills of the up-and-comers within their fleets – you have fun, learn a lot and get paid for doing it too. What more could you want? The Instructor Course dates are from the 12th-16th April, commencing at 8:30am through to 4:30pm each day. There are a some pre-requisites to be eligible to do this course though as it is part of the National Coaching Accreditation Scheme administered by YNSW and YA. ·         You must be at least in year 10 at school. ·         You must already be able to operate a power boat. The training and mentoring will continue until you reach the age of 18 and  have completed a current senior 1st aid, CPR and powerboat handling courses, when you will be eligible to become an accredited Instructor. From this level, you can continue with the Club Coach Course. YNSW will be running this course next on the 7th-9th April starting at 6:30pm to 9pm on the first day, then 9am to 4pm on the remaining two days. Both these next courses will be hosted by the Woollahra Sailing Club, Vickery Ave, Rose Bay. Expressions of Interest at present are being sought at present and anyone interested in learning more should respond to Cribby at Andrew.Cribb@nsw.yachting.org.au ; tel 02 8116 9800. Follow Us On Twitter  Have you noticed we are on Twitter - we have a Twitter feature box on our home page bringing you all the latest Tweets. For more information, view the mobile link and text link from Twitter to be able to follow us on your mobile too (Telstra customers). Editors Ramble It’s already a big newsletter – it’s been a big month and more to come.   So, I’ll be reporting in our next newsletter about the F11 heading back into Queensland, starting with the Qld Youth Week incorporating the Australian Mid-Winter Youth Championships on the 7th-10th July 2010.   We will also be awarding a number the CYCA’s Youth Sailing Academy part scholarships after the NSW State Championships.   See you next week at Georges River SC for Round 2.     Pricey    see our News item below for more......

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Sail-World Article - Bagdad Bob Fires His Last Shot

Latest SW article on last day and wrap-up..........

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	RO 'Bagdad Bob' fires his last shot concluding the 2010 F11 Nationals 'Big Starts from the F11 Nationals Fleet - The 2010 Flying 11 National Championships'    David Price    Click Here to view large photo What a thrilling week full of great stories for the seventy one Flying 11 crews away in Tasmania for the 2010 Flying Eleven National Championships hosted by Tamar Yacht Club on the Tamar River at Beauty Point, Tasmania. It came down to a sensational conclusion in the last race of the regatta to determine the new Flying 11 champions and podium finishers, in true bitter-sweet fashion for many crews and supporters. The fleet of seventy one crews, including eight from the home team battled it out in a full set of conditions throughout the week ranging from varying light winds to blustering 25kt westerlies coupled with a strong river current and 3m tide adding to the confused mix. 1366 Protagonist Declan Reilly & Ira Dubery M16’SSC - The 2010 Flying 11 National Championships -  David Price   Click Here to view large photo Right from the start, this regatta was a tough one for many young competitors with a black flag start in race 1 effectively wiping off the infringing ten crews' options to drop their otherwise worst score in the series. Many of these crews were regarded amongst the top contenders for the 2010 title, and coincidentally offspring of many of the officials. Perhaps a result of such varying conditions, only one crew from Belmont 16ftSSC managed to win more than one race, Lethal Blonde's crew Chris Fay and Emma Knighton scoring wins in race 2 and 3, all others won by different crews from three other clubs. 'Bagdad Bob' Hugh Leicester RO and RC Chairman Iain Murray - The 2010 Flying 11 National Championships -  David Price   Click Here to view large photo There were too many re-starts to count, RO Hugh 'Bagdad Bob' Leicester using a total of 216 shotgun cartridges to get eight races off, making the gunfire from the water seem more like a Bagdad wedding ceremony than a sailing regatta. 1305 Lethal Blonde Series Leaders in Race 6 - The 2010 Flying 11 National Championships -  David Price   Click Here to view large photo Lethal Blonde were series leaders from race 2 until the final day where the real nail-biting began. Nearest rivals Protagonist Declan Reilly and Ira Dubrey from Manly16ftSSC were eight points behind them and had only beaten Lethal Blonde on two occasions prior in this regatta. Hammer Time crew Sam Ellis and Kurt Hansen from Belmont16ftSC were a further five points behind Protagonist, Hydromattic Matt Stenta and Bradley Leicester of Manly 16ftSSC six points and the next challengers Fired Up crew Nat Greentree and Harry Price also Manly16ftSSC an extra nine points south of Protagonist. After the abacus was utilised, all Lethal Blonde needed was to finish within eight boats of Protagonist to retain the lead and claim the crown for 2010. Hammer Time likewise needed to be in front of Hydromattic at the finish and keeping a watchful eye on Fired Up in order to keep the status quo entering race 7. The crews of Hammer Time and Fired Up had already used their black flags from race 1 as their drop in the series, elevating the tension just a deal more, making calculations and forecasting something Nostradamus would be proud to pull off. Who is not OCS - The 2010 Flying 11 National Championships -  David Price   Click Here to view large photo As you could imagine, not everything goes as planned, although Protagonist got off to a clean start at the pin end, with Lethal Blonde struggling within the pack further up the line towards the committee boat, looking horribly asthmatic. Regrettably Hyromattic had caught a cold too. Hammer Time and Fired Up each had clean air and so the games began in the light variable nor-east breeze, fluctuating at times an awkward 60deg when pressure arrived from the east. Upon arrival at the first mark, Protagonist rounded behind Missleading Kanya Raj and Sarah Jones and Boris Felix Grech and Adam Bloomfield both from Hunters Hill SC in third place, Hammer Time around in fourth place with Fired Up still close by in seventh place. Our current series leaders had stayed buried in the pack and were still travelling uphill by the time the race leaders dropped down to the bottom turn. At the leeward mark, Missleading continued to lead the field with Boris hot on her heals and Protagonist maintaining third place. Fired Up and Hammer Time were next around together with Hammer Time chasing a pressure line off to the right while Fired Up tacked back left to follow the present leaders up the second work. It was a big call for Hammer Time to venture out alone, in fact looking very lonely now way out to the right but hooking into some good pressure they had spotted at the turn north. The fleet leaders were now hitting the left where some pressure was also building, Protagonist continuing all the way to the lay while Fired Up reworked the left back and forth, trailing Missleading and Boris up to the top mark. 1366 Protagonist take line honours in R7 and 2010 National F11 Champs - The 2010 Flying 11 National Championships -  David Price   Click Here to view large photo Protagonist's venture way out left eventually paid off and they arrived at the top mark ahead of Boris who had overtaken Missleading at the bottom of the course with some halyard dramas. Fired Up assumed the role of fourth place with Hammer Time looking awfully sick downstairs where the wind had passed by quickly with little follow through to bring them back from the right edge of the course. From this point on, Protagonist was never headed and crossed the line to become the new Flying 11 Champions for 2010. 2010 F11 National Champion Grins - The 2010 Flying 11 National Championships -  David Price   Click Here to view large photo Lethal Blonde never recovered and relinquished the coveted prize with dignity to the cheers of all the spectator craft awaiting their finish. The battle for third however was very much alive and Fired Up crossed the line in race 7 in third place, with Hammer Time still a considerable way off finishing and more boats separating them than they wanted to be able to retain their third place in the series. One thing Hammer Time did have in their favour at this point in time was that Hydromattic was now well out of the picture for race seven, leaving the only concern of how many boats were separating them from Fired Up. Hammer Time was locked in a battle with two other boats and needed to beat them to the line for an outright grasp of third place. When they were pipped by only two second on the line by Frozen With Fear Harvey Bates and Ben Bannon Cronulla SC, their score tallied level with that of Fired Up. Subsequent anxious calculations revealed on countback that Hammer Time had been able to fend off their foe and so confirm their podium placement of third for the series. 1355 Ninja in Race 2 - Big Tuesday - The 2010 Flying 11 National Championships -  David Price   Click Here to view large photo The First All-Girl Trophy went to Cheeky Sam Nugent and Maddie Clancy of Manly16ftSSC, the Junior Skipper Trophy to Cronulla SC crew Frozen With Fear Harvey Bates and Ben Bannon, the Handicap Trophy was won by Miss Behavin Emma Wilson and Thomas Wilson of Middle Harbour 16ftSSC, and the Teams Trophy to the best three crews points tally of Manly 16ftSSC. There are some very interesting and funny stories to enjoy from the race reports of the regatta posted on the Flying 11 website www.flying11.yachting.org.au including links to over 1600 photographs. Tamar Yacht Club, Beauty Pt, Tasmania - The 2010 Flying 11 National Championships -  David Price   Click Here to view large photo by David Price   5:33 PM Mon 18 Jan 2010 GMT Click here for printer friendly version Click here to send us feedback or comments about this story. If you want to send this story to a friend, please use link below http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/RO-Bagdad-Bob-fires-his-last-shot-concluding-the-2010-F11-Nationals/65562 Click on thumbnails to enlarge and find more photos: Based on your current download speed Sail-World has delivered large images (660 pixels long side.)  If you would like to see only small images (300 pixels long side) click here .  For medium sized images (500 pixels long side) click here . Our Advertisers are committed to our sport, please support them! This site and its contents are © Copyright TetraMedia Pty.Ltd and/or the original author, photographer etc. All Rights Reserved. Photographs are copyright by law, if you wish to use an image from Sail-world.com, Powerboat-world.com or Marinebusiness-world.com, Contact us . Ph: + 61 2 4977 2116 fax: + 61 2 4977 2528 or complete our feedback form    Contact us .    View our Privacy Policy.    [Go Home]     [Bot Archive ]   Customised news feeds -Marine Industry companies, Clubs and Associations have their own customised version of our Sail-World news feed on their website. Look_here_to_see_examples

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BAGDAD FRIDAY - Report on Races 5 & 6 F11 Nationals

Today marked the real business end of the regatta, with a series now established and many of the top contenders carrying their black flags from race 1.....

Friday 15^th January, TYC, Beauty Pt, Tasmania

 After the marathon effort exhibited by the fleet on Wednesday, a lay day on Thursday was well in order and a welcome relief for sailors and parents alike.  

It gave many the opportunity to repair damaged boats, officials time to rest after a frantic and anxious pace set from very start, and the sailors the chance to hit the fun parks – the flying fox, go-karts, etc or just chill out watching horrible movies (one’s you don’t know about and only find out when you too have a break at the same time). Of course, many adults went off to their fun parks too hitting the road to the local vineyards for lunch.

The forecast of no wind for Thursday as you travelled past the yacht club seeing a beautiful steady and true seabreeze was a little disconcerting for the RC, but all we had to do was just keep looking straight ahead and it didn’t hurt so much. It also meant we might have the chance of a similar set of conditions for Friday’s races.

Today’s AGM was held at the Tamar yacht Club at 9am came and went with little fanfare, the usual suspects in attendance; the boat park activity seemingly a little brighter with a day’s rest providing just the right pill to re-ignite the passion of our national championships once again.

The overcast conditions burnt off to allow a gentle seabreeze of 12kts to filter in from 310deg and the daily routine got underway for a scheduled start at 1330 hours on the aptly newly named “Bagdad” Friday.

Today marked the real business end of the regatta, with a series now established and many of the top contenders carrying their black flags from race 1, desperate to have another race at least to enable the drop. With the weather looking stable, the tension was wire tight and of course the start of race 5 saw many once again a little eager to make amends producing another general recall of the fleet.

The re-start of race 5 did not have tide to contend with and we got off under code flag P on the second attempt at 1343 hours. 1305 Lethal Blonde Chris Fay and Emma Knighton B16’SC were wearing the yellow jersey leading into race 5 and they went out pin end and continued left while their competitors started further up the tree then tacking back to protect the right latter in the work.

1336 Hydromattic Matt Stenta and Bradley Leicester M16’SSC blasted from the centre of the line and crossed back ahead of the fleet on port, continuing up the first beat showing great boat speed to arrive at the top mark only 15 seconds ahead of team mates 1288 Onya Mark Nick and Shaun Connor M16’SSC, 1276 Predator Paddy Gilbert and Nicola Elliot HHSC on their transom, followed by 1364 A Little Psycho Angela Bates and Simon Boardman CSC, 1388 Zephyr Angus Buick and Daniel Nugent M16’SSC and 1345 Bambino Oliver Hartas and Lucy Roper LC12’SSC.

By the leeward mark, the breeze had built slightly, and 1336 Hydromattic were looking comfortable leading 1288 Onya Mark, 1388 Zephyr, 1276 Predator, 1345 Bambino and 1374 Fired Up back out to the right.

By the next rounding at the top of the course, 1336 Hydromattic had extended their lead to 40 seconds ahead of 1288 Onya Mark, 1374 Fired Up, 1388 Zephyr from the right and 1276 Predator converging at the mark to commence the square run to leeward.

1336 Hydromattic had a 50 second lead from their next rivals by the leeward mark, the positions of the front pack changing with 1388 Zephyr around before 1276 Predator now in front of 1374 Fired Up.

Same deal again at the top mark falling off to the wing with the leader 1336 Hydromattic extending even further away from second place. Some new blood presented themselves at the wing mark for the final leg of the now shortened course to the downwind finish. 1391 Bolt Tim Forbes-Smith and Jim Colley ASC had snuck up to fourth position ahead of 1374 Fired Up, with 1366 Protagonist now in the play.

Matt and Bradley were never headed during the race and crossed the line well ahead of the rest of the fleet, 1288 Onya Mark retaining second place, 1391 Bolt third.

A quick on water lunch ensued and race 6 was presented to the fleet at 1530 hours in a softer and now varying breeze. This became the beginning of yet another extraordinary or rather just ordinary set of start attempts by the fleet.

With the amount of gunfire out on the water, the scene on the starting line for race 6 was akin to a Bagdad wedding this afternoon with all three shotgun barrels glowing white hot. Everybody on the committee boat this afternoon is now deaf. Out of 200 shotgun cartridges on board from the start of the week, there are only three left! After the race, both the RO and National President could not recall how many attempts were required to get the fleet off to a clean start. And…… there are now apparently no ducks left in northern Tasmania.

Nightfall was fast approaching, and so too the breeze disappearing when eventual success was delivered to the starter at 1700 hours. All the RO could do was laugh – it was certainly not the right time to sign him up for another series in the future you could say.

In the twilight of the afternoon, the fleet gingerly tacked up the right to the first mark rounding with 1373 Hammer Time Sam Ellis and Kurt Hansen B16’SC scoring the hit ahead of 1305 Lethal Blonde, a few boat lengths back to 1378 Slick Nick Williams and Chris Holmes M16’SSC, 1292 Whip It With Style Siobhan Hayes and Laura Fletcher HPCYC, 1382 MWD Ash and Daniel Heyworth M16’SSC and 1276 Predator.

At the wing mark, rookie F11 lightweights 1382 MWD had jumped up to third place and by the bottom mark, 1373 Hammer Time was fending off 1305 Lethal Blonde and 1382 MWD, then 1378 Slick slipping inside of 1374 Fired Up on their way to a dying breeze trip north.

An eerie calm was descending upon the fleet as they tip-toed up the second beat, 1373 Hammer Time successfully defending their front position by the top mark to lead 1305 Lethal Blonde, 1382 MWD, 1374 Fired Up, 1380 Missleading Kanya Raj and Sarah Jones HHSC and 1366 Protagonist M16’SSC back down the course on the leeward leg.

The leg was a drifter and by the turn back uphill, 1382 MWD had floated to a narrow lead from 1305 Lethal Blonde, 1373 Hammer Time, 1380 Missleading and 1374 Fired Up now separated from the following fleet.

With the committee now scampering to get the S flag from the cupboard to finish them before the doomed breeze died altogether, the front pack took to the right once again. 1382 MWD made the most of their advantage skilfully covering with increasing gain and crossed the line with a convincing 30 second win from 1373 Hammer Time, and 1305 Lethal Blonde rescuing their overall lead claiming third place.

The leaderboard after 6 races has 1305 Lethal Blonde's Kris Fay and Emma Knighton from Belmont, NSW retaining their series lead with eight points ahead of 1366 Protagonist M16'SSC and 1373 Hammer Time. 

The final day’s racing will be moved forward to first warning at 1030 hours. We had to delay a 0900 hours start due to the fact the ammunitions store does not open until 0900hrs !

Pricey

Other Links
	Photos Race 5
	Photos Race 6
	Overall Results After 6

Charge of the F11s

WHEN WILL IT END Wednesday - Report on Races 3 & 4

The newly formed Rescue9�team was now quite happily located on the balcony of the local hotel, and it sounded more like a duck shoot than a sailing race......

Wednesday 13^th January 2010, Tamar Yacht Club, Beauty Pt, Tasmania

Stories, stories, stories – step right up……………….

With the first two days of the series only being able to reward us with one race each instead of the two scheduled, and the fact the RO Hugh Leicester also had had not luck with his early morning fly fishing expeditions to date, it was obvious we were in for some serious business on the water this afternoon on “When Will It End” Wednesday.

We needed four races in order to have a national’s series and the wind forecast for later on in the week was threatening to drop out all together. Two races today was a must have to lock it all in.

Never a dull moment in this regatta; the forecast was for light westerlies and this was going to create real problems if we were to achieve a fair course laid across the Tamar River. The on and off pressure was hop-scotching across the course area from 210deg and 270deg every five minutes, from 2kts to 14kts. The more dominant pattern on the right had its issues near the top mark being flippant and fluky due to the influence of Seahorse and Platypus Worlds big industrial sized sheds coupled with the hills in the background, and the left hand pattern putting the port course’s wing mark on the soon to be very shallow muddy banks where the present breeze looked very sad. We could also consider falling back across and up river to where there was no breeze to speak of and run a starboard course making it a top mark spectacle of fibreglass shards and grief for the fleet approaching it on port tack; what joy!

Meanwhile, work was being done on the committee start boat’s flag staff relocating same from port to starboard as the tide had turned the boat to now be facing downwind, it’s stern pointing back up the course and the anchor line off the bow extending out to make it a sort of obstacle course for the fleet starting at the boat end with tide pushing boats uphill. Are we having fun yet?

It was then that our RO issued a statement that there was a job vacancy on board – all welcome to apply. The RC Chairman Iain Murray and National President (moi) aka the Comedy Team were summonsed to the committee boat to share the love.

A debate ensued on the idea of sending the fleet ashore for an hour until a settlement of the breeze might occur. Translated, this meant at least two hours before a start could be achieved which made the idea of two races today somewhat cramped. Next idea was to just time the bib-and-bub behaviour of the wind direction and pressure, and run with a start when things looked doable knowing it would switch back or out or both in the not too distant future.

We eventually chose the latter.

Well, attempt No.1 went as expected with nearly every boat ocs, the current pushing heavily to windward across the start line. No.2 the same. No.3 – you guessed it! Ok, out with the big stick once again; after all, they had had a bit of practice by now.

Comedy is all about timing they say and we got this one off just before 1500 hours in one of the right handers which gave boats even on 5^th and 6^th row at the boat end a real chance at stardom by the first crossing of the fleet.

By the top mark, 1340 Xlr8 Murray Jones and Harry Morton B16’SC had grabbed the cheese from team mates 1305 Lethal Blonde Chris Faye and Emma Knighton B16’SC, ahead of 1386 Wet Willy Will Dargaville and Sean Watt ASC, 1349 Outrageous Gemma Rasdall and Jessica Angus ASC, 1357 Smoke and Mirrors Jessica Isles and Chris Stenta M16’SSC and 1365 Whatever Gus Williams and Lachlan Murnaghan M16’SSC.

Off to the wing mark which looked ever increasingly docile. By the time the leaders had turned for the second reach, the committee boat was unfurling the good ol’ N Flag to the sound of Mr Shotgun to put the sad old beast down and out of its misery.

Jump forward a little to 1619hours and we pick things up again with start No.5 for race 3. From the river banks way across at the clubhouse and from where the newly formed “Rescue 9” team was now quite happily located on the balcony of the local hotel, it sounded more like a duck shoot than a sailing race. Thank G we had a smart shotgun operator who had been to Woollies on the way to the club earlier in the morning and had stocked up on a trolley full of cartridges in anticipation of another fun day out. The deck of the committee boat looked more like a navy patrol boat with spent shotgun cartridges a plenty and the single and double barrel shotguns a ready.

The breeze had swung all around to the north by now and was steadily building to a good 18kts. Those on the right hand side did well jumping on the bus (current) flowing out fast towards the top mark, with 1305 Lethal Blond and 1374 Fired Up Nat Greentree and Harry Price M16’SSC three boat lengths ahead of 1348 SS Squill Wil Coxon and Oliver Bell ASC, 1362 Guccii Billy Ditmarsch and Sam Holmes M16’SSC, 1366 Protagonist Declan Reilly and Ira Dubery M16’SSC and 1373 Hammertime Sam Ellis and Kurt Hansen B16’SC.

The fleet enjoyed the two very fast reaches and settled back into the second beat uphill, 1366 Protagonist now leading 1374 Fired Up and 1305 Lethal Blonde back down the leeward leg to the bottom mark.

The position of the leaders remained the same by the turn up to the top mark for the last time in race 3. 1366 Protagonist started the reach to the wing mark with 1305 Lethal Blonde, 1348 SS Squill, 1373 Hammertime and 1374 Fired up in hot pursuit.

With the time now almost 1700 hours, the RO had shortened the course to finish at the leeward mark with the intention of jamming in another race before nightfall.

The wing mark arrived with 1305 Lethal Blonde inside 1366 Protagonist and a big gust hitting them just as they gybed throwing spanners in the work for both crews,

Lethal Blonde’s crew dropping everything to hang face-down over the windward gunnel to remain upright, 1366 Protagonist also experiencing difficulty and unable to bank the advantage offered to windward.

It was now a drag race to the downwind finish at the bottom mark with 1305 Lethal Blonde climbing over 1366 Protagonist to win race 3, 1373 Hammertime also snapping third place from 1374 Fired Up.

The crews had now been out there for the past four hours.

Our RO gathered the fleet together one last time for the day and got race 4 underway by 1740 hours, the breeze still a moderate 14kts from the north. What had changed though was the tide, which was now heading back up the river.

This produced a big variance between the previously favoured right hand side and the “out of tide” left, which caught most of the main players off guard. By the time the pennies had dropped the leaders were mostly fresh new faces with 1327 Cheeky Sam Nugent and Maddie Clancy M16’SSC heading down the reaches ahead of the pack. (At this time, a certain support boat ran out of petrol and had to be rescued, so details now jump ahead a little to when we catch up again with the fleet – sorry).

1391 Bolt Tim Forbes-Smith and Jim Colley ASC had benefited from heading off to the left all race and again took this route the third time to land at the top mark well ahead of the fleet on the final triangle, despite crossing continually through the downwind spinnakered fleet’s disturbed air. With such a healthy lead, they were never headed and crossed the line a minute and a half ahead of 1373 Hammertime in second place, 1334 Ace Matthew Mayall and Lucy Murray ASC sailing a great race to finish in third place.

The fleet retired to the shore at 1900 hours very tired and weary, but they had secured their nationals series. After such a marathon effort, the RC called a Lay Day for Thursday, much to the delight of many parents and some crews who were eager to have some time off and enjoy their visit to Tasmania.

1305 Lethal Blonde’s Chris Fay and Emma Knighton B16’SC currently lead the series after 4 races, with many of the top guns having to carry their black flagged race 1 result of 72 points well back in the field without the ability to drop until they get another race in. There is still plenty of regatta to go over the next two days and as we have seen, anything can happen and probably will.

Pricey

Other Links
	Photos Race 3
	Photos Race 4
	Overall Series Results

1355 Ninja Nina Long & Pia Doyle B16'SC

BIG TUESDAY - Day 2 - 2010 F11 Nationals

The overcast conditions of race day no.2 of the 2010 F11 Nationals in the morning of a a tranquil glass finish to the river surface did not show any signs of what was to come on BIG TUESDAY......

Tuesday 12^th January 2010, Tamar Yacht Club, Beauty Point, Tasmania

 The overcast conditions of race day no.2 of the 2010 F11 Nationals in the morning began with a tranquil glass finish to the river surface, and a protest to be heard from the previous day. The boat park slowly filled with sailors and fathers tinkering about with their rigging, and with various discussions on a rather interesting first race the day before.

By 1130 hours, nearly all crews were at the club and the chairman of the Race Committee Iain Murray began the official activities by conducting an informative analysis of the various racing start flags and options available to a race committee.  Obviously, there was a good deal of interest leading from Sunday and Monday’s Black Flag starts, as well as the introduction to many young sailors of the Z Flag and Rule 30.2. This was also an opportunity to present the winning crews of the first two day’s racing with their individual race prizes and a lucky dip of four Gill gift vouchers which went down rather well with the successful recipients.

As the time to hit the water approached, the breeze began to fill in nicely, indicating we would be likely to conduct two races in the afternoon with a bit of luck, unlike the previous day where the second race attempt had to be scrubbed.

The start boat was recording a true and building breeze at 320deg consistently for an hour prior to the scheduled start at 1330 hours, and all looked very promising for sailors and officials alike.

Perhaps we should never feel too snug about such things as by the time the scheduled start time had arrived, things inevitably began to change and the committee start boats up-anchored to comply with the now shifting wind and a rapidly increasing intensity. It would tease the RO Hugh Leicester and his team for over half an hour. A quick call to the local weather monitors at BOM also relayed a wind warning for damaging winds was headed our way. All fun stuff when you are trying to get a good start away – on time, and a true and fair line.

After much adjustment to the conditions, the RO was ready to go when the first wave of pressure arrived, white caps and spray immediately the meal of the day for the young fleet. Big smiles emerged on the faces of the majority of crews, adjusting to the new conditions with great zeal.

An attempt to get the fleet off before the line before the pressure arrive was not to be with a big shift in wind direction resulting in a postponement signal from the committee start boat. The subsequent start of race 2 at 1412 hours in an average 22kts was spectacular, speed and spray creating an electrifying show for the many spectator craft assembled at the pin end of the start line. The breeze kept building as the initial minutes sped by, water now lifting off the rapidly increasing turmoil atop the big river’s surface.

The fleet split to both sides of the course up the first work, most able to accommodate the increasing wind and seaway with the current running hard out to seas forcing a very short and sharp chop to deal with. There were a number of capsizes from a few of the more inexperienced crews and by the time the boats from both sides came together, 1336 Hydromatic Matt Stenta and Bradley Leicester M16’SSC had a five boat length lead from 1355 Ninja Nina Long and Pia Doyle B16’SC, 1340 Xlr8 Murray Jones and Harry Morton B16’SC, 1378 Slick Nick Williams and Chris Holmes M16’SSC, 1305 Lethal Blonde Chris Faye and Emma Knighton B16’SC and 1364 A Little Psycho Angela Bates and Simon Boardman CSC.

1336 Hydromatic were able to set their spinnaker where others were unable to due to the 24 knot winds coupled with a very turbulent wave pattern. Unfortunately for Matt and Chris, they headed off to the leeward mark instead of the wing mark, leading a number of boats down  with them until they realised their error and turned for the correct mark way off to the right.

The rest of the fleet were absolutely screaming out to the wing mark riding sizable waves, albeit most without spinnakers on a very high reach. Down the second reach, a number of crews braved the rough conditions and managed to set their spinnakers, but inevitably came unstuck at various stages before washing down to the leeward mark. No position was safe or held for long and anything was achievable if they could just ride it out.

After some very quick recoveries, the fleet battled their way back up to the top mark again with 1305 Lethal Blonde now leading the pack with many changes to positions from the previous rounding.

Again 1336 Hydromatic had their kite up for most of the downwind leg until a capsize near the bottom rule out their sniff back at the lead. 1305 Lethal Blonde rounded the leeward mark first, followed by 1355 Ninja then 1374 Fired Up Nat Greentree and Harry Price M16’SSC who had managed to fly downwind without too many hiccups. However, they turned back uphill where Mr Tangles pulled them up with kite sheets and bailer lines wrapping around the jib sheets. Nothing was certain in this race, the share of good and bad luck equally served up to all competitors.

With the imposing breeze set to increase even further, the RO shortened the course with the finish line now set at the top mark. It was 1305 Lethal Blonde who received the gun ahead of the “great escape” artists 1366 Protagonist Declan Reilly and Ira Dubrey M16’SSC (who had had capsized on the start line previously) and the tough All-Girl crew 1355 Ninja taking third place after a very exhausting but exhilarating race number 2.

There were thirteen retirements during the afternoon’s fun and games, notably participants from every club entered making it an even attrition factor for all teams visiting the regatta. Nearly all the spare parts brought down from NSW by various boat builders, riggers and repairers were used up in the subsequent wash-up back at the beach. One mast, a tiller extension, spinnaker pole and a couple of spreaders later, all was good with the world at Tamar Yacht Club boat-park.

It was a day to remember and with the promise of even larger breezes predicted for Wednesday, the world of the Flying 11s retired for the evening with no-doubt some great stories being replayed during dinner.

The RO also changed the Sailing Instructions to suit the predicted dying breezes later in the week by signalling the scheduled reserve day for Wednesday be substituted with a race day.

What we will be naming our Wednesday’s races is now anyone’s guess, but it is sure to have a good story attached to it.

Pricey

Other Links
	Photos Race 2
	Races Inv & #1 Presentations

The F11 Committee's Japanese Whaler

Race 1 'Black Monday' Report - 2010 F11 Nationals

Black Monday as it seems to be now referred to looked just so promising when the expected seabreeze began to kick in early around noon......

Monday 11^th January 2009 – Tamar Yacht Club, Beauty Point, Tasmania

 One can say it is never dull in the Flying Eleven class. Take Race 1 of the 2010 Flying 11 Nationals for example……..

“Black Monday” as it seems to be now referred to looked just so promising when the expected seabreeze began to kick in early around noon on a rather picturesque hot summer’s day here at Beauty Point.

All 71 boats were ready for action and lined up at the starting line for the scheduled start of the first race of the championship at 1330 hours. The breeze however decided to play games for RO Hugh Leicester and his team, with ever increasing swings to the right, the intensity now fluctuating from 5-15 knots. Add to this the very low tide (remember Christmas tides here) and it looked like part of the course would have to consist of a running race to achieve a suitable length for the first work on the Tamar River.

The committee start boat was anchored in 0.75m of water on the depth sounder…….. and it draws 1.5m – go figure!?! The locals did mention the N/NE breeze was not the most favoured on the river at Beauty Point. Options for laying a reasonable course seemed somewhat difficult every time the breeze swung around from 025deg then back to 340deg. Pressure kept coming in from the right but settled long enough for a go at the slated time of 1330 hours – more a coincidence than anything else. Mr Leicester being renowned for starting “on-time” racked them up, fingers crossed the breeze would hold and we’d get off cleanly first time around.

The fleet had other ideas and by the boom of the shotgun, only a few boats were not ocs so a general was sounded to recall all back for another go at it.

A half-hour later, after wrestling with the erratic conditions playing havoc for the committee boat, the black flag was hoisted with the expectation the fleet would realise the RO meant business in his endeavours to get the fleet off to start the business end of the 2010 National Titles.

The Black Flag (aka the Big Stick Rule 30.3!) when displayed requires that all boats/crew or equipment not enter the triangle area created by the first mark and the start boat and pin end mark during the last minute before the starting signal. Its use is synonymous with “the last straw” option to get a clean start.

Well, by go time and subsequent general recall, we had 10 boats scribed upon the infringement list now hung on the transom of the committee boat. It was clear that no favouritism was afforded to the offenders, with the majority of the Flying 11 committee and volunteer offspring appearing on the list! Happy Days !!!  

The next start almost a full hour from the first attempt and again under the “Big Stick” funnily got off very cleanly,

with virtually no-one near the line within the one minute prior to kick-off. At this time, the pressure had swung back in the north and the pin end was plastered with the hotties on their way up the first beat.

However, as you would have now expected, this did not last for long before a big right shift in pressure shot the right side to the lead on starboard, those on the left of the course now looking like poor asthmatics in a running race. This pattern dominated the rest of the afternoon and as one sailing coach succinctly stated, “it was harder to pick than a broken nose”!

By the first mark, 1301 Frozen With Fear  Harvey Bates and Ben Bannon CSC had won the lottery and had established a seven boat length lead from 1386 Wet Willy Will Dargaville and Sean Watt ASC and 1387 Tetris Paddy Bannon and Luke Brady CSC, with 1359 Frantic Keats Thompson and Tim Narborough CSC, 1288 Onya Mark Nick and Sean Connor M16’SSC and 1364 A Little Psycho Angela Bates and Simon Boardman CSC.

The 10kts of breeze was still inconsistent but held for the front runners along the first reaches to the leeward mark with 1301 Frozen With Fear fifteen seconds ahead and positions remaining the same except for 1340 Xlr8 Murray Jones and Harry Morton B16’SC assuming the sixth spot from 1364 A Little Psycho.

The second beat had the right hand side favoured with 1301 Frozen With Fear now comfortably leading from 1386 Wet Willy with 1364 A Little Psycho gaining third rank from 1387 Tetris, followed by 1288 Onya Mark and 1337 Shake Your Booties II Toby Dind and Finnian Alexander HHSC now in the play.

By the third beat to windward, the wily breeze had commenced to shutdown in a number of areas over the race course. 1301 Frozen With Fear only extended their lead from the fleet, but 1364 A Little Psycho now held second position from 1386 Wet Willy, 1340 Xlr8 now fourth, 1288 Onya Mark next and 1337 Shake Your Booties II. All except 1301 Frozen With Fear headed to the wing mark for the last time with pressure, only to come unstuck by falling into a breeze void two thirds of the way across on the starboard tack. 1301 Frozen With Fear had managed to slide past the doldrums zone and now had almost a full leg advantage of the pursuing fleet.

Harvey and Ben were never headed after the first beat to windward and crossed the line 2.5 minutes ahead of second place 1305 Lethal Blonde Chris Fay and Emma Knighton B16’SC after they skirted the many holes across the course up the last work, along with newbie Flying 11 sailors 1382 MWB Ash and Daniel Heyworth M16'SSC getting a God Card too. There was understandably plenty of new blood in the top ten. 

Well done to the crews that made the most of it and succeeded in realising their potential during race 1.

Pricey

Other Links
	Results
	Photos Race 1

Invitation Race Fleet - 2010 F11 Nationals

INVITATION DAY A PERFECT START FOR THE 2010 F11 NATIONALS

The injection of five hundred visitors to the aptly named township certainly had the locals putting on their finest to welcome the fleet........

Sunday 10^th January 2010 – Tamar Yacht Club, Beauty Point, Tasmania

The sport of Sailing is alive and well in the Flying Eleven class with 71 strong nationals fleet now comfortably settled in at Tamar Yacht Club’s Beauty Point Clubhouse for the 2010 Flying 11 National Championships.

The lower reaches of the mighty Tamar River valley was abuzz on day 1 with the arrival of over one hundred and forty young Flying 11 sailors and their families to excitedly contest the 2010 nationals.

The injection of five hundred visitors to the aptly named township certainly had the locals putting on their finest to welcome the majority of the fleet from the mainland. A number of local dignitaries enjoyed the atmosphere of the feverish pace of the measurement and registration process, with the action captured by television crews both on and off the water, including a handful of interviews from a number of young skippers.

Many hands made light work of the enormous task of the of weighing boats and the measurement of all spars, foils and sails prior to the commencement of the Invitation Race at 1500 hours.

The breeze (or rather the lack of same) had tormented the crews all morning with a moderate cloud cover stifling the arrival of the “promised” sea breeze. As if by some magical signal, and true to the word of the local sailing fraternity, the breeze kicked in right on time around 1230 hours and built steadily throughout the now sunny afternoon to the increasing smiles of the fleet and volunteer officials alike.

Race Officer Hugh Leicester started on the dot of 1500 hours as expected, albeit having to recall the first start as nearly all were a little too anxious first time to get underway in their campaign for 2010. Hugh with his renowned “sense of humour” tossed up the black flag for his second attempt to begin the regatta and his message was perfectly understood by all crews on this occasion.

The breeze was in the nor-west (their seas breeze) at 10-12kts with a very low tide turning at 1530 hours creating a fair amount of short chop with the fleet splitting equally to both sides of the course up the initial beat to the top mark.

Both sides appeared to have their good and not-so-good moments with the fleet all arriving together for the first rounding, with young rookie Flying 11 skipper Paddy Gilbert and his crew Nicola Elliott from Hunters Hill SC in 1276 Predator showing the others the way to the wing mark, 1378 Slick Nick Williams and Chris Holmes Manly 16’SSC, 1352 Boris Felix Grech and Adam Bloomfield HHSC, 1288 Onya Mark Nick (2010 MJ Champ) and Sean Connor M16’SSC separated by just a handful of boat lengths ahead of the rest on their way out south.

At the wing mark, 1276 Predator approached from the inside lane with 1378 Slick ducking through a small gap to squirrel the lead away from them on the second reach to the leeward mark.

1378 Slick had stretched their lead up the second beat to round comfortably for the leeward leg of the course with 1352 Boris and 1276 Predator bunched together next around and 1288 Onya Mark another ten boat gap behind, with 1348 SS Squill Will Coxon and Oliver Bell ASC and 1305 Lethal Blonde Chris Fay and Emma Knighton B16SC now duelling for fifth and sixth position.

As this was an invitation race, the crews experimented with each side of the course at various stages of the race, noting the precious advantages across the course area producing varied results in position throughout the race.

Nonetheless, 1378 Slick maintained their stronghold over the fleet to the finish in first place crossing ahead of 1352 Boris, 1276 Predator, 1288 Onya Mark, 1305 Lethal Blonde and 1374 Fired Up Nat Greentree and Harry Price M16’SSC stealthily slipping up to sixth spot over the line up the last work.

A wonderful Salmon Steak BBQ wrapped up a perfect day 1 at the Welcome BBQ function immediately after the race.

What a great start! The full fleet will be on the starting line for Race 1 at 1330 hours Monday 11th January.

Pricey

Other Links
	Photos of Measurement Day & Rego
	Photos of Invitation Day
	Invitation Race Results

Sail-World.com

SAIL-WORLD.COM - Tasmania Host 2010 F11 Nationals Preview

The Flying Elevens are on the march once again for their national's regatta odyssey........

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	Tasmania to host the Flying 11 Nationals 10-16 Jan 'On The March To Tassie - Flying 11s'    David Price    Click Here to view large photo The Flying Elevens are on the march once again for their national's regatta odyssey starting January 10th-16th Jan  hosted by Tamar Yacht Club at Beauty Point, Tasmania. The class ventured away from its regular strongholds earlier in 2009 with their nationals at Eden in NSW and are now on their way even further south to the Tamar River. It will be a premier event for the Tasmanian sailing community and a huge boost for Tasmanian tourism with 140 young sailors and their families injecting over half a million dollars into the local Tamar Valley community over the regatta week. The entire northern Tasmanian Government and community have seemingly backed this event, with vast support and input provided by the local Tamar Valley commerce sector. The Welcome Night and Presentation Dinners are expected to be a remarkable production - the theme being the 'Taste of the Tamar' with contributions from many local businesses offering their produce to the 600 visitors of the regatta. The Tamar Yacht Club facilities and resources are second to none, possessing a generous array of experience and talent amongst the volunteer support personnel conducting the event. The Flying Eleven national fleet will entertain a 3m tide added to the regular river current – something not many would normally come across at their home waters and it will be certainly be another very valuable encounter for these young sailors to savour, and a great opportunity to advance their sailing skills. This impressive class has been bursting out of its seams over the past few seasons with over ninety crews competing at their state association events. This event is the Flying Eleven Sailing Association of Tasmania's opportunity to once again showcase this dynamic aussie-made skiff to the Tasmanian sailing community at large, and especially Yachting Tasmania and Yachting Australia who to date only support international classes. Once again, with such participation levels and year round programme support, the class will demonstrate their obvious pathways link from our junior classes through to the senior youth classes here in Australia. Where else can our Australian junior and youth sailors experience such healthy fleet participation levels at every regatta? Flying 15s -  David Price   Click Here to view large photo For the past few years, the class has been very active in the establishment of a successful, developing training and racing programme, fully structured and run all-year-round for all junior and youth classes in Australia, not just the current and graduated Flying Eleven fleet. The programme caters for skill development at all levels of sailing and racing. The class also conducts sail instruction and coaching courses in association with YNSW's Development manager Andrew 'Cribby' Cribb providing a valuable resource to all clubs, other associations and classes. Through the dedication of a handful of determined volunteers, an enormous amount of time and effort and a focus on the participation of the sport – not just performance, this class has surpassed the 'supported classes' participation levels at home whilst continuing to feed Australian sailing with future champions like no other. Follow all the action of the 2010 Flying Eleven Nationals updated daily on their website www.flying11.yachting.org.au and on twitter.com/flyingelevens Flying 15s -  David Price   Click Here to view large photo Flying 15s loaded -  David Price   Click Here to view large photo by David Price   9:25 AM Wed 6 Jan 2010 Click here for printer friendly version Click here to send us feedback or comments about this story. If you want to send this story to a friend, please use link below http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Tasmania-to-host-the-Flying-11-Nationals-10-16-Jan/65141 Click on thumbnails to enlarge and find more photos: Click for further information on Related News Stories: 09 Jan 2010  Australian 470 Championship 2010 - Four in a row for Page and Belcher 08 Jan 2010  International 14 World Championship - Greenhalgh goes for a swim 08 Jan 2010  49er World Championship - Spanish team dominates 08 Jan 2010  International 14 World Championship Final Series - Brits lead 07 Jan 2010  13ft Skiffs - Northside Sailing School continues to dominate 07 Jan 2010  29er World Championship - Haumann and Holtug continue to lead 07 Jan 2010  49er World Championships - Spain leads the way 07 Jan 2010  Outteridge and Jensen head into 49er Gold fleet in good position 07 Jan 2010  International 14 World Championships - Brits win Day 5 06 Jan 2010  Australian 16ft Skiff Championships MORE STORIES ... 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F11 Newsletter Header

F11 Newsletter January 2010

Last minute updates for Tassie Nationals.....

JANUARY 2010

In this issue:

• F11 NATIONALS Last Minute Updates
• F11 Training Camp - Middle Harbour Report
• Helping Hand Programme & Green Fleet
• F11 Sailor Profiles
• Editors Ramble

F11 NATIONALS Last Minute Updates

Here we go. In a week, we'll be savouring the magnificent F11 Tasmanian hospitality at Beauty Point. The team down there have been doing a superlative job preparing for a terrific 2010 F11 Nationals with a fleet of 69 boats as of New Year's Day.

Everything has been done to ensure we all have a most memorable holiday and regatta visiting the oldest yacht club in Australia - Tamar Yacht Club (Launceston) and the somewhat newer clubhouse at Beauty Point and beautiful Tamar River valley. Take a look at the information on our website as there have been a few additions and updates in the recent past. The pdf Presentation of the area is very helpful in recognising where you will be arriving.

Perhaps most importantly for our sailors, is to bring warm sailing gear with you to this regatta. If you notice on the globe, the next stop south is Antarctica. It's always better to be warmer on the water (and in it perhaps) so plan ahead as the water is still chilly once you get a little deeper into it.

Life Jackets are a MUST in Tasmania if you are on the water. The Nationals menu has a link to the MAST website where all boaties requirements are laid out in full.

The Sailing Instructions are there for you to download, and there will be an amendment posted when you arrive at registration [some typo's to correct after we published  ].

Registration and measurement will "officially start" at 9am on Sunday 10th January followed by a briefing at noon at the Beauty Point clubhouse of Tamar Yacht Club. There will be a Support Vessels briefing just prior to the Competitors briefing.

Our F11 Nationals AGM will be held on Friday 15th January at 9am at TYC Beauty Point and we extend a friendly welcome to everyone to attend (on the basis you are friendly back  ).

The containers will be arriving at the clubhouse at Beauty Point some time on the 7th January. "Container Boy" Andrew Kendall 0418 651 766  and Pricey 0409 884 380 have a set of keys each, and AK will be there on the 8th; Pricey the 9th. It will be a coordinated approach to remove the boats from the two containers - not just a turn-up and receive sort of thing so many hands making light work scenario will be the go. I expect the unpacking will occur on saturday afternoon at the earliest unless you've beaten me to it! The frames are numbered; remember they are used to bring the boats back too. Many thanks for the wonderful team we had on packing day at Hunters Hill - you made us look good!

Although most have already complied, those of you who have not organised and paid for tickets to the Welcome BBQ or the Presentation Dinner, please see the Rego Team upon arrival. Final arrangements and payments will be done then as this volunteer team will be then busy elsewhere - we multi-task well to a point - once the regatta commences as you would appreciate.

F11 Training Camp - Middle Harbour Report

The Middle Harbour Training Camp held prior to Christmas was a huge success, with 36 boats from F11s and MJs in attendance.

Our coaching team consisted of our finest young F11 sailors and champions - Josh McKnight, Penny Kendall, Scott Cotton and Olivia Price with YNSW coaches Larry Cargill and Head Coach and 1979 F11 Champion Craig Ferris. If you are interested in becoming an instructor just like our young guns above, we will be running Instructor Courses at the end of this season and will advise on this more in the next few newsletters. Andrew Kendall is our Training and Development officer who will be able to inform you on the details in the meantime.

Special thanks to Sausage Kings Peter Dind and Andrew Kendall for their exceptional catering skills and Tinny for his tireless work as host of the Middle Harbour facilities. And of course, it would not be possible to have achieved such success without the unbridled support from YNSW's Andrew Cribb - Cribby - who has worked with us in association to help fund and contribute to these camps with us over the past few years. Cribby is a godsend to us and to YNSW and we look forward to bigger and better things for Australian sailing to come from this top fella.

From all accounts, the assimilation with other classes continues to produce great results for all young sailors and we expect to increase the opportunity for other classes to join our training camps in the future.

For those that joined us this time at Middle Harbour, we'd like to hear from you and have a short survey that you could complete - it's helpful and anonymous too. Click HERE to go to the survey or see the Twitter link on our home page.

Helping Hand Programme & Green Fleet

One of our ongoing activities you might not be aware of is the Helping Hand Programme where we provide new clubs with assistance from our association to foster the class and their young sailors by way of introduction to the Flying Eleven boat and to our coaching programmes.

In December, we visited Northbrige Sailing Club with three boats and crews for a try sailing a F11 experience. It was a fairly light day and was perfectly suited to their junior sailors graduating from Optis and Sabots before they jump into their senior NS class.  As you can see by the NSW President's Report below, it was a big success. They already have two F11s on the water!

Helping Hand Report by James Ellis

• We have lined up some experienced F11 parents to attend each venue to coordinate the sessions and to speak with kids and parents about all things F11
• We would like some flying 11 skippers with their boats to come and take out potential F11 sailors.
• The F11 Skipper should remain onboard their own boat at all times, but hopefully will offer the tiller over if conditions are suitable.
• The aim is to have fun and show them how good an F11 can be.
• Currently it is intended to run the sessions across the midday period for 3 or 4 hours.
• a fee of $75 for the day will be payable to the skippers who volunteer their time to offset costs
• preference will be given to those F11 skippers that have done, or are involved in, the Instructors program but please make contact if you can help.

• the green fleet will start after the main fleet and sail around the same course
• the intention is to encourage sailors who have not experienced regatta sailing to join in the fun and develop their skills
• we hope this will also encourage parents of young sailors in the back half of their club fleets to mobilise and travel to regattas
• a modification to the NOR and SIs will be published soon with more details but for now, we would love you to start encouraging some of you more inexperienced clubmates to think about joining us at Georges River

 Latest F11 Sailor Profiles    

Have a look at all the F11 SAILOR PROFILES published over the last few months on the front page of our website.

If your name does not appear there, you are not famous yet!

Want to be famous?  Then click on the main menu About F11s and then click on Sailor Profile - Submit  to join up like the others.

You'll be so glad you did!

 Editors Ramble

I have just so much praise for the Tasmanian F11 team of volunteers who have put what will be a magnificent nationals regatta together.

Despite the adverse effects of little support from their state sailing association in helping stage one of their states biggest youth regattas, certainly the biggest participation level of youth sailors anyway, they have shouldered the load and have everything now in place to ensure we will have a most successful nationals for 2010. I can't wait................

Pricey 

F11 Newsletter Header

F11 Newsletter - December 2009

MH Training, Instructor Courses NSW States wrap, 2010 Nationals NoR & Entry live now and a bit of ramble on too........

DECEMBER 2009 In this issue: F11 Training Camp 21st - 23rd December - Middle Harbour 16'SC F11 NATIONALS 10th-16th JANUARY 2010 F11 Sailor Profiles Editors Ramble F11 Training Camp 21st - 23rd December - Middle Harbour 16'SC  Our Pre-Nationals F11 & MJ Training camp at Middle Harbour 16’SC for three days starting Monday 21st December link is now active. Polish up on skill and tactics in preparation for your respective National Championships. It will also be a social gathering – sort of like a Xmas Party for our young sailors. Plenty of fun to be had with some hard work thrown in. Applications are done via our on-line system. Start times will be the same for each day. Middle Harbour 16'SC (near Middle Harbour YC) will host this event. Arrive at 8am for 9am start, and the day training will end at 4pm. A light lunch will be provided as part of your entry fee for both skipper and crew. Entry fees ($240) are for a crew of two per boat, i.e. skipper and crew.    Click here  to apply to enter this training camp, and to view further details of the programme. Our Training Camp Coordinator is once again Andrew Kendall 0418 651 766. Andrew has been busy rounding up all our Instructors from the first two intakes to work at this camp under the YA mentors so they can become fully accredited after turning 18yrs and doing the required hours, First Aid and Power Boat courses. These Instructors will be of great benefit to their clubs in the future once accredited by having the necessary skills and insurance cover under YA to fully support their local training programmes. They will also be able to earn income from helping our young sailors and clubs around Australia – a great way to travel about and get paid on the way too.   Andrew and his team are looking to run another series of Instructor Courses in the near future, intending to reach over the 100 mark for participants over the next 12 months, and we are seeking your Expression of  Interest by forwarding your inquiry to become an Instructor to  flyingelevens@gmail.com You must be at least 16 years old to start your training to become an Instructor. Click here to link up to further information on the Instructor Courses and the National Coaching Accreditation Scheme (NCAS). If you have any questions after viewing the information on either the MH16’s Training Camp or Instructor Courses posted on the web, please send us an email at flyingelevens@gmail.com 2010 F11 Nationals 10th-16th January We are continually posting new information to our website’s 2010 - Nationals menu. You will find all Race Documents, information on location and site plans, race areas, on-shore events etc under this menu. The Notice of Race and on-line entry are posted and ready for downloading and completion. Jump to it now as it will only get busier the closer we get to Christmas and New Years.   WELCOME to the 2010 Australian Flying 11 Nationals hosted by the Tamar Yacht Club, Beauty Point, Tasmania to be held from the 10th - 16th January 2010. The entry fee for all competitors is for your boat’s Skipper and Crew.  It includes: ·         entry to this event, ·         the Event Welcome Pack for 2 competitors, ·         both the Welcome Night Gourmet BBQ and the "Taste of the Tamar" Presentation Night dinner and function for skippers and crews. The Welcome Night Gourmet BBQ and the “Tastes of the Tamar” Presentation Night tickets for your family and extra guests are also ordered during the on-line entry to this event. Further tickets may be purchased at the event – please check at registration time for the cut-off date. Entries are requested to be made On-Line preferably and will close at 1159hrs 31st December 2009. Late entries will be considered with the applicable Late Entry fee as set out in the Notice of Race. For those of you sending your boats to Tasmania and back via the containers, the final arrangements have been completed (yesterday). You will be sent an information email over the next few days including your invoice for payment. Thanks for your patience; we always have a hard time coordinating the transport with up to six different bodies/companies…………. In short, collection and drop-off will be at Hunters Hill Sailing Club on Tuesday 29th December and 20th January return arrival.  Latest F11 Sailor Profiles     Have a look at all the F11 SAILOR PROFILES published over the last few months on the front page of our website. If your name does not appear there, you are not famous yet! Want to be famous?  Then click on the main menu About F11s and then click on Sailor Profile - Submit  to join up like the others. You'll be so glad you did!   Editors Ramble   Well, the first round of the NSW States has come and gone with 91 entrants (if only Greenwich had been there – 100+ maybe). I had bet a beverage with my “colleague” AK we would get over 100 boats with his original (phone around) estimate of 97 – maybe I was suckered in on that one? Nonetheless it was an enormous result for the class and just after a fairly large graduation year last season too. Congratulations to Hunters Hill Sailing Club and all the volunteers who pulled this momentous event off in sometimes difficult conditions.   Poor old Mark Thorpe’s (F11 Master Chef) parking lot is crammed with repairs this week, some quite major from collisions during last weekend, which brings me to offer some advice.   It is worthwhile checking with your insurance company if you are covered for sometimes substantial repairs if ever required, even if you are not at fault. It costs a fair bit to re-rig, repair substantial hull damage and the like. Just insuring your boat for what you would sell it for is often leaving you short if a “nasty one” occurs. I’ve had a few calls informing me of this situation during the week; always wiser after the drama has happened unfortunately. In my dealings with my insurer, I noted it was very little extra on the premium to cover my boats for everything should things turn ugly, at fault or not by the way. Better to check it out I say………..   A funny story worth telling this week was when a “colleague” of mine asked if I could do something about changing the aspect of the overall results pages posted on the web using a browser. It brought to mind a terrific image of him lying sideways on his computer desk trying to read these results! I almost, almost, almost, didn’t inform him if you click the right mouse button, then Rotate Clockwise, all things become a little bit ok. Oh, he’s had a big week as he now has his email facility on his blackberry up and running – his pigeons have now all been put to sleep. I’m afraid you’ll have to guess whom I’m talking about but I’ve left a “clue” in my Ramble.   Sometimes, I do have a nice tale to tell and this is just one occasion I do – inspiring stuff.   A great story emerged from the NSW Champs this week - a brother and sister story with a happy ending. After a recent bale-out by the brother’s crew just before his first away regatta, his sister who had not sailed before stepped up to the plate. I had worked with the novice skipper all season in training, but only once with his sister, a week before the states. As we recall, the conditions were rather full on with westerlies and tide; as difficult at times as you would get. I watched these two finish the last race, after numerous capsizes, in last place and well outside the 30 minutes allotted for “finishers” without scoring a DNF. They received a hero’s welcome across the line from all the remaining spectator boats and they were given a complimentary horn blast from the committee boat too.   They were asked many times if they wished to retire. I am informed the crew would not stand for it, instructing her brother she was there to support him through thick and thin, drowned and exhausted she was not giving up. He should not too!   They of course did score a DNF and were somewhat crushed (severely disappointed was how it was put) that they had not scored a finish for race 4. I spent a bit of time explaining clause 14.2 of the Sis and I believe all is now understood and spirits are back on a high.   It is important that crews realise when it is time to throw in the towel, a safety issue always outweighs the rest. But obviously the support vessels monitored the situation, witnessing a sheer determination that only confirms these two young junior sailors have the right stuff. They are placed overall in the early 70’s at the moment.   I look forward to the not to distant future when they cross the line with the horn in first place!     Pricey         see our News item below for more......