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Tales 28th January 2006
Eleven boats took to the water in the 2nd of the post
Christmas series, with a steady 10 – 15 knot
Easterly blowing. The race started with Andrew and
Russell Smith on “In The Blue” bravely
taking a port tack through the entire fleet, with
only a mild maneuver required to avoid being trampled
under the transom of the giant “Jubilation.”
What a good effort from Pete Deppeler and crew on
“Jubilation” to sail direct from the ‘Skandia’
event and join our Saturday afternoon jaunt. Queenscliff
to Apollo Bay, and then we made him wait until the
2.15pm start!
During the course of the race the fleet spread out
significantly with the Goodison boys’ catamaran
and “Not Your Average White Boat” establishing
an early lead over the fleet. The boys on the other
Catamaran, Prindle, formally known as “In the
Shit” found themselves living up to the boat’s
old name when they lost the mainsail halyard soon
after the start of the race and had to limp into the
Harbour under jib sail alone.
Despite carrying a heavy handicap of bird manure on
her stern, Matt Armstrong’s white diamond, “More
Hypertension,” sailed a brilliant race, leaving
the Flying Fifteens behind and managing to pip the
classy “Jubilation” on the finish line.
Mind you, “Jubilation” had collided with
the outer mark and the obligatory 360-degree penalty
was completed. It was only at the end of the race,
when they crossed a mere 9 seconds behind “More
Hypertension”, did the true significance of
their costly clout hit home.
Diane Inglis was feeling unwell on “Tumbleweed”
and a request was made to transfer her to the rescue
boat for transport back to shore. That was okay, but
as the rescue boat approached “Tumbleweed”
kept her spinnaker flying - and a lovely sight it
is too, Bill. But with both craft trimming along at
a crackling pace, Dianne needed to attempt some serious
stunt work, reminiscent of the best scenes from “Raiders
of the Lost Ark” as she leapt through the air
‘Indiana Jones’ style and … Well,
Bob Hansen provided a cushioned landing and we all
thank him for that.
The play of the day had to be Geeks and Stewie on
“Not Your Average White Boat”. They insist
that they ran over their own spinnaker and managed
to release one side and ‘flick it’ back
round the front of the boat without stopping. Since
there were no witnesses to this feat it must remain
a mere ‘submarine myth.’ On the other
hand, their pre-race casual ‘floundering’
into the barge buoy rope and subsequent disentangling
effort across their own tiller was witnessed and duly
entered into the formal history books. “Thank
you linesman, thank you ball boys.”
Yardstick:
1st Jubilation
2nd Not Your Average White Boat
3rd Windswept
Handicap:
1st Jubilation
2nd In The Blue
3rd More Hypertension
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