Race Report - Saturday 9 August 2025

Winter Sprints with a Championship Twist!

Last weekend we had volunteer PROs Dr Martin Gill and Gaye Rosen joining us on the start boat to run the racing, and so for this sprints day we ran a mini Champs course. A few showers around made for a gusty/shifty S to SSE course just off Double Bay, with blue sky breaking through on occasion. The course was set South and as the wind tended more to the SSE for the second race, we adjusted the course more to the SSE for the third.

Martin Gill our PRO had his wind instrument up on the Jazzman, and we made great use of his self-written app which showed the wind swinging from 20deg on one side of the course to 20 degrees on the other. Excellent information for deciding on course changes.

We look forward to welcoming new members Martin and Gaye as our PROs on our Club Championship Race days this Season. Please say hi to them and make them feel welcome at the next Championship Race day in Spring.

The short course we had set made for tight racing for the small ILCA 6 fleet, and in the First Race David Airey was 1st over the line, closely followed by Martin White in 2nd, and Brad Cox 3rd. Then it was Martin White winning with a clear lead in the Second Race with Andrew Cox 2nd, David Airey 3rd. Then Martin White again clear ahead in the Third Race was 1st, with Brad Cox (visiting us for the day) in 2nd, Andrew Cox 3rd.

In the larger ILCA7 fleet, the First Race saw Yves Stening 1st over the line (after James and Rod worked through a port vs starboard which slowed them somewhat), followed by Geoffrey Boscoe in 2nd, Patrick Black 3rd. Rod and James continued to compete for the front of the fleet in the second race, where Rod Barnes prevailed in 1st and James Tudball 2nd, Jason Wilkins 3rd. Then in the Final race James Tudball took 1st and Rod Barnes 2nd, Mike Dunne 3rd.

This week we only had one ILCA 4. We welcomed new member Ben Philips, who mixed in with the ILCA 6 fleet. Hopefully we will see more members return to racing this week as the weather returns to more sunshine and less rain!

Thank you to our on-water team lead by Dr Martin Gill and Gaye Rosen as PRO, Steven London as LtRaR, COTD Kerryn Smith and Quentin Burns. Thanks also to our canteen captain Paul Adam (assisted by Geofrey Bosce). Everyone should know that Toasties are now available every Saturday race day, so come and see Paul in the canteen!

by Steven London