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FEBRUARY 2013
DOWNWIND Racing Association Newsletter CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
Diary Dates March Wed 6
Twilight Series 2 - R5
Sat 9:
J24 State Championships
Sun 10: J24 State Championships Sun 10: CYCSA Crabbing Day Mon 11: Adelaide Cup Public Holiday Wed 13: Twilight Series 2 - R6 Fri 15:
Island Cup Offshore R6
Sat 16:
Coaster R8
Wed 20: Ladies Helm Twilight Race Sat 23:
Inshore R12 & R13
Sun 24: Vicsail Beneteau Regatta (CYCSA) Wed 27: Twilight Series 2 - R7 & Series Presentation Fri 29:
Good Friday
April Mon 1:
Easter Monday
Sat 6:
Great Southern Regatta Day 1 & SA Sportsboats Champs
Sun 7:
Great Southern Regatta Day 2 & SA Sportsboats Champs
Sun 7:
RSAYS Ladies R7
Sat 13:
Offshore R7
Sat 13:
Coaster R9
Fri 19:
Combined Season Debrief at RSAYS (1930hrs)
Sat 20:
RSAYS Inkster Memorial Race & End of Season Party
Thurs 25: ANZAC Day Public Holiday
February and March are notoriously busy for our racing fleet and this year has been no exception. I recently attended my first “Safety Sunday” at the club, I’ve always maintained my Yachting Australia SSSC certification and have not, until now, participated in a Safety Sunday session and I was extremely impressed by the professionalism of our instructors and the amazing amount of information they were able to pass on to those who attended this very busy day. Safety Sunday aims to teach our members the basics of safety at sea but is in no way intended to be as comprehensive as the Sea Safety Survival Course. It was wonderful to talk to those who attended and hear such positive feedback about the day and I congratulate Andy Shipp, Matt Young, John Edwards and Brett Yardley for their time and dedication towards ensuring that our crews can head out to sea armed with basic safety knowledge. We will continue to run two Safety Sundays every year but I do urge skippers to urge new crew members to attend one as soon as possible rather than leave it until just before the Lincoln race. We managed to squeeze everyone in but from now numbers will be capped at 40 per day which means some may miss out. On the subject of Safety, the position of REX is that whilst not mandatory, we do urge ALL skippers to hold current SSSC certification. Another highlight of the past month was February’s Combined Twilight race. With ideal weather conditions, it was fantastic to see such a large fleet out on the water, Mario, Dorian and staff were kept busy with more than 300 hungry crew members and friends to feed and some great live music by acoustic duo “Simply By Chance” further complemented the great social atmosphere of the night. And finally, the Adelaide –Lincoln race and Lincoln Race Week were a success yet again. The rivalry between the big boats, the hard work of all crews in very challenging and changeable conditions, the marathon that the race turned out to be and the thrills and spills of Regatta racing on the Boston Bay all contributed to a memorable week for all competitors. My own pedigree for this race doesn’t extend to more than a decade and a half but, speaking to some who have clocked up more than twice that number it would seem that this year was one of, if not THE longest Lincoln races in memory but relatively flat seas and warm temperatures possibly helped to allay some of the frustration. Many interstate competitors commented to me during the week that they consider that Lincoln rates as one of the very best in the country, and for a number of reasons: Gathering together at the Adelaide host club, the race itself, the camaraderie of all crews at the Marina Tavern, proximity of available accommodation and the many social events on the program all combine to make visitors feel very welcome. On behalf of REX I congratulate the Port Lincoln Yacht Club committee along with Stewart Ross and his on-water team for their wonderful effort once again this year. Congratulations also to the Secret Men’s’ Business crew on breaking their hoodoo with Scarlet Runner, for the first time in four years the smaller white boat beat the big red boat, nay, thrashed the big red boat, over the line. Congratulations also to the Sydney 38 Fleet competitors who revelled in their one-design fleet racing during the week and a hearty thanks to Andrew Corletto, Geoff Boettcher, Derek Morrison, Keith Finch and the crews of Shining Sea, SMB 3.5, Asylum and Rapid . Their excellent efforts in such a challenging Lincoln Race clinched the Teams Trophy for the CYCSA this year. Looking ahead, we have 13 races to complete our program this year. Presentation night is on the 3rd May, and don’t forget to find a lady to helm in the coming ladies twilight race !
TRACI AYRIS RACING CHAIR
DOWNWIND • CRUISING YACHT CLUB OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA RACING EXECUTIVE WWW.CYCSA.COM.AU