Lake Jindabyne Sailing Club’s Twilight Series Gets Underway
Story by Tim Symons, photos by John Byrne, Ian Foster and Tim Symons Feature photo is of Ian Furguson taking it to the edge.
Lake Jindabyne Sailing Club’s premier Twilight series commenced for the 2020/21 sailing season with race one held on the evening of Wednesday 4th November. After a warm and sunny day, a cold and rainy afternoon approached as the Lake Jindabyne sailing Club sailors rigged their boats for the first twilight race of the season. Seven mono-hulls and six catamarans made up the fleet with John Byrne on the start boat and Ian Foster and Steve Osborne manning the rescue boat. The start boat’s engine decided not to co-operate due to a flat battery resulting in John and the start boat being towed out to the start line near the Bay Mark. John set a Port rounding course in the Southerly breeze. The breeze shifted dramatically to the South West, resulting in a square run start rather than the expected windward work.
The cats started first with Alan Davis getting his usual good start. He was followed by Tim Symons and Andrew Kennedy to the Quarry mark which they rounded together and set off to chase Alan. Thor and Freya Slater followed next on their Maricat with Jason Abbott and Sam Bishop on their F18 starting a bit late. Adam Robinson and Mars on their F18 got on the water, but too late for the start. So, they sailed around instead.
The monohull fleet consisting of five Laser plus a Finn and a 470 dinghy crossed the start line five minutes after the cats. Nic Kennedy and John Baird started up their regular battle at the front of the fleet as they sailed around the first triangle lap. The wind increased to around 8 to 10 knots with the occasional stronger gusts.
The boats zoomed around the three lap course with the cats making good use of their trapezes in the stronger gusts. After a close battle, Tim managed to slip ahead of Andrew who was eventually caught by Jason & Sam while Freya skippered the Maricat. Alan led the cat fleet to the finish line at the Bay mark, followed by Tim, Jason & Sam, Andrew and Thor & Freya. The Handicaps have rolled over from last season which helped Andrew get the win from Freya & Thor, Alan, Tim and Jason & Sam.
Meanwhile the monohulls battled each other and the gusty breeze around the inside course. Some had to recover from capsizes to continue racing while John Baird retired from the race. Nic led the fleet to the finish line followed by Terry Lee & Lucas Blackmore-Lee, Damien Goninan, Kerry McGaw, Mal McLean and Ian Ferguson. Kerry sailed his Laser Radial well against a bunch of Laser Full Rigs to take the Handicap corrected time win from Terry & Lucas, Nic, Damien, Mal and Ian.
On the weekend… A sunny but chilly afternoon greeted the sailors on Saturday 7th November. John Byrne manned the start boat while Ross Lawley and Tim Symons manned the rescue boat. John set a course on the main lake and a start line at the Peninsular mark in the erratic 6 to 8 knot South, South Easterly breeze. The start boat moved downwind a bit before the start which slewed the start line from its preferred position. As the six catamarans made their way to the start line the rescue boat got caught in their way & had to avoid several of the cats as they zoomed past. The resulting start was a bit confused and several boats crossed the line early. As the catamaran start is the five minute warning for the mono-hulls, John decided not to recall the cats for a new start. The eight monohulls also had a confused start with several boats over the line early. Again, John decided to let them go.
The cat’s zoomed off on the first triangle lap with a long single tack work to the cardinal mark off Cub Island. Adam and Mars on the Capricorn F18 slipped top the front while being chased by Michael Fearnside and Ross Tattersall on the Hobiecat Wild Cat F18 and the other cats. The cats sailed two triangles and two windward / leeward (sausage) legs before finishing back at the Peninsular mark. Michael and Ross finally caught and passed Adam and Mars while Alistair & Alexi Cross on their Nacra 5.8 steadily worked their way through the fleet and chased the two F18s. Andrew Kennedy on his Hobie 17 battled with Sam Bylatt and Lucy Cross on their Viper F16 with the F16 only passing him on the last sausage leg of the race. Marty Wittington brought up the rear on his Hobie 17.
Nic Kennedy on his Finn slipped to the front of the monohull fleet. He was closely chased by John Baird and Hamish Greenwood on their Laser full rigs. Three more Laser full rigs sailed by Damien Goninan, Steve French and Mal McLean battled away along with Steve Osborne on his Laser radial. Peter Baker on his Spiral slipped off the fleet a bit and retired from the race. The monohulls completed a three lap race of two triangles and a sausage lap.
Michael and Ross led the cat fleet to the finish line at the Peninsular mark. Alistair and Alexi found some extra breeze near Lion Island on the last leg to pass Adam and Mars and finish second with Adam and Mars third. Next to finish were Sam and Lucy followed by Andrew and Marty. The Yardstick corrected times mixed the results up with Alistair & Alexi taking the win from Andrew, Michael & Ross, Adam & Mars, Sam & Lucy and Marty.
Nic led the monohull fleet to the finish line, while John and Hamish battled for second place. Hamish capsized on the last leg, allowing John to finish second and Hamish third. Next to finish were Damien, Steve F, Mal and Steve O. John took the yardstick corrected times win from Nic, Hamish, Damien, Steve O, Steve F and Mal. After the completion of the monohull race, John Byrne started the trip back to the beach as the start boat was taking on water. Ross and Tim kept the rescue boat at the finish line until Marty completed the course. Meanwhile, on the start boat, John had to sit as far forward as possible to reduce the water in the stern as he safely returned to the beach.
Come on down and join the fun…. See you at the Jindabyne Sailing Club before the starting gun at 1800
