Glen Stanaway 10/10/2005

Michael Carter veteran of fifteen years sailing the highly competitive 18 foot skiffs was disappointed last weekend that the race was cancelled in consideration of predicted harsh weather conditions.

The forecast for Saturday was marginal racing conditions for the 18 footers. The Bureau of Meteorology predicted 20 to 30 knot winds changing to 20 to 25 knots in the evening. However the race officials led by John “Steamer” Stanley and David Speck felt that the conditions may well be worse than predicted. With around 50 years of local experience Steamer suspected that the wind will easily exceed 30 or even 35 knots.

Regardless of this, there is a school of thought that believes that the 18 foot skiffs should be handled capably by a good crew in the officially predicted conditions. There is an element of truth to this given that many experienced veterans of the sport openly question the perceived lesser seamanship skills of 18 footer sailors today.

It used to be quite normal for skiffs to race in near gale or gale force breezes. However the issues of insurance, and the rising costs of the high tech 18 footers means that some compromises have had to be made.

Synergy (Carter) and Sydney Star (Michael Boyd) elected to train regardless of the Club’s call. Through a miscommunication, Dinghy Solutions (Richard Scarr) and Maytag (Kevin Jervis) both rigged and sailed out not realizing the race was off.

Steamer and the Sydney Flying Squadron however were both vindicated for their decision with gale force gusts in the 34 to 38 knot range being recorded for most of the afternoon.

Both Maytag and Dinghy Solutions had considerable difficulties. Maytag retired to Double Bay and Dinghy Solutions dropped their mainsail and was towed back to Rose Bay by the sailing school’s own inflatable rescue vessel.

Synergy and Sydney Star both battled the conditions and managed to return to the Sydney Flying Squadron under their own efforts. It was not easy going however with boat 18 footers being knocked down by the gusts so frequently that each crew lost count of the number of times they had to right the skiffs from a capsize.

Crew members did sustain minor injuries with Synergy’s Luca Rizzotti suffering facial cuts and bruising, a swollen eye as well as widespread bruising and cuts to his legs. Bill Robson on Sydney Star suffered cuts from being thrown onto rigging as well as considerable bruising over most of his body. It looked like both had been playing Rugby Union, not enjoying a pleasant afternoon sail.

by Glen Stanaway