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JANUARY 2012
DOWNWIND Racing Association Newsletter CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
Diary Dates
Welcome to the New Year and a warm welcome back to the crews of Two True and Patrice IV following their Sydney-Hobart race. Patrice posted a 12th place in the Division 3 IRC fleet while Two True sailed a tight competition to be 33rd boat across the line and equal third in Division 4 IRC. Two True then sailed to Melbourne for the Festival of Sails (aka: Geelong Week as it will probably always be known to the rest of us). Andrew Saies and his crew posted a commendable 3rd in Div B IRC in the Melbourne stage, 4th in the same Division down in Geelong and 9th in the Premier Racing Passage (combined). I am sure I speak on behalf of all racing members when I extend a warm “well done” to the crew of both boats who represented the CYCSA well at such prestigious regattas.
February Wed 1:
Twilight Series 2 - R3
Sat 4:
Offshore R4
Sat 4:
Coaster R4
Wed 8:
Twilight Series 2 - R4
Sat 11:
Inshore R9 / IRC R9 / Multi R9
Sun 12:
CYCSA Crabbing Day
Sun 12:
RSAYS Ladies R6
Wed 15:
Twilight Series 2 - R5 (RSAYS)
Thurs 16: Lincoln Briefing (RSAYS) Fri 17:
Offshore R5 / IRC R8
Mon 20:
Lincoln Week Regatta
Tues 21:
Lincoln Week Regatta
Wed 22:
Lincoln Week Regatta
Thurs 23: Lincoln Week Regatta Wed 29:
Twilight Series 2 - R6
March Sat 3:
Inshore R10 / IRC R9
Sun 4:
RSAYS Ladies R7
Wed 7:
Twilight Series 2 - R7
Sat 10:
J24 Aust Championships
Sun 11:
J24 Aust Championships
Mon 12:
J24 Aust Championships
Mon 12:
Adelaide Cup Public Holiday
Wed 14:
Twilight Series 2 - R8
Fri 16:
Island Cup Offshore R6
Sat 17:
Coaster R8
Wed 21:
Twilight Series 2 - R9 & Series Presentation
Sat 24:
Inshore R11 / IRC R10
Sun 25:
Vicsail Beneteau Regatta (RSAYS)
Wed 28:
Ladies Helm Twilight Race
Sat 31:
GSR / Inshore R12&13/IRC R11&12
REX recently addressed a request from Division 2 Skippers in our Phil Hoffman Twilight Series for separate race results for Cruising A and Cruising B. We have responded by separating the fleet as asked but we will continue to input the recorded race time for every boat into our Combined Twilight Series database so that we can produce an overall winner at the completion of Series 2. On the subject of Twilights, I made comment a few weeks ago which related some events which I personally witnessed, that being some aggressive (if legal) manoeuvres out on the course by some competing boats in the pre-start and mark roundings of some recent races. On this particular evening I commented that we had enjoyed perfect weather for twilight racing, and getting friends and colleagues out on the water for a fun social race on such a night was exactly what Twilight Racing is all about. I further commented (in a jocular fashion) that anyone who takes Twilight racing too seriously should perhaps rethink their actions. This comment was in no way an attempt to demean our wonderful Twilight fleet; rather it was an attempt to give some skippers pause for thought. Speaking on behalf of REX, we hold the view that Twilight Racing is the ideal forum to encourage novice crews who might come as guests and also to encourage CYCSA Yacht owners to participate in racing, not scare them away. If a new owner is not as au-fait with the rules as a Skipper who can demonstrate impressive helm skills and rule knowledge, then surely it would be prudent for such skippers to grant leniency and hopefully not force the rules to the point where boats, and people, could potentially be broken. REX believes that we have an adequate sufficiency of Inshore, Coaster and Regatta racing to test the mettle of any competitive skipper but Twilight racing is, above all, aimed at encouraging owners to enjoy social racing in a relaxed atmosphere, not scare them away from the possibility of racing, so I do urge all skippers to be mindful of other boats with guests onboard during Twilights and resist the temptation to force a point for the sake of it .
I attended my first Kaesler Cup at the RSAYS this month and was surprised to learn of its origins. I now stand fully informed (thanks to some well-chosen words from Peter Kelly and the Kaesler sponsors) that the race was designed from the outset as a bid to encourage competitive racing and social interaction between the CYCSA and RSAYS. A course set outside the river saw the fleet enjoy a mix of windward work, reaches and enjoyable downwind runs to the Silt ground before finishing in the river. Crews from Rapid 1 and Bullistic enjoyed the after-race celebrations and presentations on the Squadron Quarterdeck and I sincerely hope that when next years’ race comes around, more CYCSA crews might see fit to embrace the philosophy of this event (because it IS about both clubs) and perhaps journey around the corner to sample the squadron’s hospitality. Like any sport, our two keelboat clubs have a long established and healthy onwater rivalry but events such as the Kaesler cup serve to perhaps remind us, first and foremost, that every person aboard every racing yacht is there because they love to race and that rivalry should perhaps end when our boats cross the finish line. Congratulations to Andrew Corletto and his Shining Sea crew, they raced superbly on the day and justly took out the top prize.
TRACI AYRIS RACING CHAIR
DOWNWIND • CRUISING YACHT CLUB OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA RACING EXECUTIVE WWW.CYCSA.COM.AU