Glen Stanaway 09/11/2005

The 18 Footers racing out of the Sydney Flying Squadron were taught a simple lesson in application of the sport’s laws last weekend when the competitors sailing were divided on interpretation of the starter’s signals and the course. There was much discontent but no protests.

Initially 18 foot skiff stalwarts like Michael Carter (Synergy) and Michael Boyd (Sydney Star Accommodation) were caught out starting almost a minute late due to their misunderstanding of the starter’s signals. Other SFS sailors took advantage though, with Adrian Dunphy (Ella Bache) getting an almost perfect start right on the gun.

	CST Composites fastest on the water but still no win Glen Stanaway

Even though Ella Bache took an immediate lead, the confusion demonstrated by the fleet made it difficult for the spectators on the club’s ferry to see if Dunphy could keep his lead. The fleet split across Sydney Harbour, with different skiffs thinking a different course was order of the day.

CST Composites, sailed by Chris Dixon sailed what they believed to be the correct course, and showed terrific speed in the conditions. In an almost error free display of skiff handling CST Composites quickly sped away, with those others on the same course quickly shown by the superior skiff how fast and smooth these boats can be sailed.

Whilst half of the fleet were receiving the lesson in boat speed from CST Composites, the other half were sailing a different course. Intercall (Lea Sitja) and Austar (Chris Kameen) were struggling to maintain a lead on Sydney Star Accommodation and Synergy was hunting them all down.

CST Composites handled the conditions without error. Glen Stanaway

The race quickly degenerated into a confusing crisscross pattern of skiffs sailing around Sydney Harbour, each wondering why the other was over there. In retrospect based on here say after the event, any of the competitors would have been within their rights to protest the committee and seek either redress or have the race abandoned.

It is a quirk of sailing that it is one of the few sports left where the competitor can complain about the officials and results without being penalized by the sport’s administering body, In fact, it is encouraged.

However not one competitor protested, and in light of the absence of formal complaint the results stand as accepted. Learning this after the event, Ella Bache’s skipper Adrian Dunphy was furious with the posted results and may still lodge an appeal with the sport’s administrators.

This coming weekend sees the start of the handicap races, where the slower performers are given a time correction based on past results. Typically this is managed by giving the slower boats a head start and working through the fleet until the fasts boats start last.

It can make for some exciting finishes if the handicap officials have done their sums correctly, with the fleet of 18 foot skiffs converging on the finish line all at the same time.

Sydney Flying Squadron 18 Foot Skiffs
Spring Series Heat 7 - Mark Foy Trophies

1. Dinghy Solutions (R Scarr)
2. CST Composites (C Dixon)
3. Ella Bache (A Dunphy)
4. Frame Group (C Doran)
5. Wentworth Courier Sydney Weekly (I Pretty)
6. Intercall (L Sitja)
7. Avaya (M Rynan)
8. Austar (C Kameen)
9. Synergy (M Carter)
10. Sydney Star Accommodation (M Boyd)
11. Sign-a-Rama (S Merrington)
12. Macquarie (M McKensey, DNS)