PT VINCENT DESTINATION RACE

from Groundswell September 2020

by Cruising Yacht Club of South Australia

CRUISING ASSOCIATION UPDATE

Venom and Locomotion

The annual winter race to Port Vincent was held on Saturday 8 August. The race consisted of two fleets, two-handed and fully-crewed. This year ten boats entered evenly spilt across the two divisions. The weather forecast wasn’t good: persistent showers; temperature below ten degrees and winds around five knots. On Saturday the crews awoke anticipating a long, wet and cold sail but overnight the forecast had changed to fine weather, the temperature 15 degrees and significantly, winds up to 16 knots from the south east. There wouldn’t be any tacking or gybing today. Although it can be tricky with a combined multi and monohull start, both fleets got away cleanly. The wind was perfect during the race, ranging from a beam to a broad reach. A few boats tried asymmetric spinnakers which proved challenging whilst the couple of boats using a Code Zero reaching spinnaker performed very well. Venom soon drew away from the main fleet and made the finish line of the Port Vincent mid-spit beacon in the very fast time of 1hr 40min 10sec. The other multihulls were close behind in ideal conditions for their style of vessel. The monohull fleet stayed fairly bunched up with the lead boats finishing with four minutes of each other. Presentations were made by Board Member, Doreen Perrin, in the BBQ area followed by a night of celebrations and catching up. An informal return race was held the next day with Clockwork (RSAYS) taking out the handicap honours. RESULTS WERE AS FOLLOWS:

Greg and Carol Patten Trophy for Fastest Multihull: Venom (1hr 40min 10sec). Greg and Carol Patten Trophy for Fastest Monohull: Sintara (3hr 18min 36sec). Greg and Carol Patten Trophy for Monohull on Handicap: Two Handed: Golden Cowrie Fully Crewed: School’s Out Two Handed PHS: 1st Tearaway (RSAYS); 2nd Golden Cowrie; 3rd Carioca da Gema Fully Crewed PHS: 1st Venom; 2nd School’s Out; 3rd Aquila Combined AMS: 1st School’s Out; 2nd Carioca da Gema; 3rd Clockwork (RSAYS)

A special thanks go to Greg and Carol Patten for the donation of trophies for this event and the Port Vincent Dash.

Adrian Wotton, Rear Commodore