Race 2, Spring Series Heat 2

Race report

Man overboard, a forw’d hand getting married, roosters and feather dusters

Last Saturday’s race seemed to have everything, apart, that is, from a full fleet of skiffs going out to enjoy a fine day on the Harbour with a light to medium easterly making things interesting for the sailors.

Before the Race, the Commodore, Marshall Flanagan, and the Rear Commodore, Terry Stewart, made the happy announcement of Aberdare’s forw’d hand, Anna, about to tie the knot. This news was greeted with a rousing three cheers from the crowd that was swelled by the jacaranda visitors that have begun to descend on the park to enjoy the annual purple display in McDougall Street.

Sadly, three of our regular skiffs were left unrigged in the park: Tangalooma with a crew shortage, Alruth and Mistake with absent or disabled skippers. Michael Carter had, however, managed to get Aberdare seaworthy with Craig Doran’s assistance and it was great to see her rigged with a new main and ready to go.

Full mains and No. 2 jibs seemed to be the preferred choice for the day with 15 knots or more expected during the afternoon. Apart from a gust or two that might have reached 15 knots, the race was sailed in 10 to 12 knots right until the final leg when the breeze went east nor’east with some surprising results.

The first leg from Kirribilli to Shark Island called for plenty of concentration from the tacticians aboard the boats with big shifts and the Harbour busy with yachts, ferries and cruise ships. Scot (Ryan Paget) forged to a good lead at the first rounding of Shark Island, a real credit to her new crew who continue to master the challenges of sailing open skiffs. Australia 4 (Terry Stewart) was next closely pursued by Aberdare (Michael Carter 30 seconds behind. Australia (Marshall Flanagan) was a further minute back followed by Yendys (Michael van Stom) who had made up around half of the start to the other boats as inflicted by the handicapper.

Scot was slow to set a spinnaker, but on the long run to Kurraba managed to hold off the fleet, maintaining the lead back to Shark Island for the second rounding of the top mark. On the long work back, most of the fleet chose to go left. Yendys, however, wanting fewer tacks and in search of clear air from the crowded Harbour went right most of the way to Point Piper and profited from the north in the breeze to pass all of the fleet except for Scot who rounded a mere minute and a half ahead of Yendys. Australia was next 30 seconds back followed closely by Australia IV and Aberdare.

On any other day, Yendys would have been very short odds to take the race. But after a bear away spinnaker set (as Yendys is inclined to do on this course) a stuff up with the ringtail and a shift in the breeze to the north took Yendys way too far into Garden Island, meaning a gybe and a very tight, shy run back to the finish. Meanwhile, with the exception of Scot who had also sailed out to the middle of the Harbour, the rest of the fleet, having set starboard poles, enjoyed a fast three-quarter shy run to the finish in the ENE breeze. Yendys had paid the price and gone from second place, and a likely winner, to last. Talk about roosters to feather dusters!

Meanwhile, the leading boats were fighting it out for their spots on the podium. Australia IV surged through close to the line to show that her recent renovation was paying dividends. The mighty Scot was second, only 22 seconds behind, with Australia third, a mere 3 seconds back. Aberdare and Yendys finished a further 30 seconds back and in that order. So, in the end, the entire fleet finished within a minute of the winner. The handicapper will be pleased with that!

It was later reported that Aberdare would definitely have done better if it were not for a man overboard during the race. Phil … missed hooking on to the leaning strap and tumbled out of the boat on the upwind leg but managed to grab a trailing brace before being hauled aboard. Well done to the Aberdare crew for complying with the rule that you need to finish with the same number of crew that you started with!

Check out some great footage of the race taken by our friends at the Manly 16s during their live stream of the Port Jackson Championship: https://www.youtube.com/live/ULbqkxpgyQc?si=NUFcvdKDvGcYJ1CR If you are not up for watching the whole race the 1:17:00 mark is a good point to start watching and looking for a few H18s.

Balmain Regatta is on Sunday! No race at the Squaddie on Saturday

Notice of Race, Balmain Regatta, Sunday 26th of October 2025.

This weekend's point score H18s race has been postponed. There is no sailing race now at the Squaddie on Saturday 25th. Don't panic! Your sailing fix is still covered! Please include any known details of skiffs / crews already organised, otherwise we would love to put together blended crews and send at least 3 skiffs and support the Balmain regatta. Send names, and we will make sure you are part of a team!

Jacaranda season is here...

That means road closures for our sailors for the next 6 weeks

The printed report, with its photographs, is on the page for Race Report 18 October 2025 in the news archive.