Race 17, Autumn Series Heat 2, Port Jackson Championship

Race report

Short and sweet: Yendys and Scot take the silverware

Just what you would expect for the end of February, Saturday was hot and humid all day. An easterly breeze had set in at about 6 knots as the skiffs headed out for a scratch start in the re-scheduled, historic Port Jackson Championship. It was no surprise then that it was to be a Kirribilli start on the windward-leeward No. 2 course.

Getting out early, most skiffs detected a bit of north in the breeze. So, a boat-end start on starboard and then quickly on to a port tack to take advantage of the left in the breeze, as well as the increasing influence of the ebb tide, was the plan. Australia IV (Terry Stewart) and Australia (Marshall Flanagan) got away well, as did Tangalooma (Neville Turbit) and The Mistake (Jerry Tickner). Scot (David Paget) and Yendys (Warren Miller) were boxed in and had their plans of running the line at speed turned on their head. Yendys usually does not mind hugging the north shore but, forced to hang in on starboard, as soon as she was clear of The Mistake, she soon tacked on to port and was the furthest to windward as the skiffs set off for Shark Island, but with work to do.

Half way up the beat, as forw’d hands were preparing for a starboard pole and gybe set, the threatened SE shift in the breeze began to have an effect. That hurt the majority of the fleet who had hung on to their port tack up towards Clark Island. A4 seemed to sense the change a little sooner and from the middle of the stream tacked early on to starboard and was soon mixing it with Yendys for the lead. Both skiffs had a good gap over the rest of the fleet approaching Shark Island. They were followed by Scot and Aberdare (Michael Carter) in close company, then Tangalooma, Alruth (Alan Robertson), Australia and The Mistake.

Yendys was first to greet the Shark Island lighthouse, having tacked inside A4 and having taken advantage of the ebb tide to make the Island and begin the run down the eastern side to the YA/AS mark. They were followed by Scot, a further 2 minutes back in third with Aberdare, Tangalooma, Australia, The Mistake and Alruth bunched up 3 minutes behind and within 3 minutes of each other. The breeze by then was ESE, but backing and veering in such a way that, with the late change to a port bear away set of big peak-head spinnakers, getting down to the bottom mark without a gybe seemed possible one minute, and then, not the next.

Yendys had maintained about a 2 minute advantage over A4 but, with both leaders approaching Garden Island to avoid sailing by the lee, they soon need to gybe to make the Kurraba bottom mark. And then it got a little bit interesting …

During the gybe, Yendys’ jib halyard managed to wedge itself in the hinge of the port spreader that was under pressure from the mainsail. This jammed the re-hoist of the jib half-way up. All manner of tugging and swearing was tried to no effect. There was nothing else to do but drop the kite and then gybe back on to port (without anything in front of the mast) to free the halyard. Then, with the jib finally up, to gybe back and head for the mark, fortunately still to leeward. All a wee bit messy to be sure, even if Yendys was left with a good angle for a fast, two-sail reach to the mark. At this time, Yendys was looking to the next lap, unaware that the PRO (Steve Kidson) was about to shorten the course.

The value of having radios on board each boat was soon demonstrated. Soon the VHF was crackling with news of the course being shortened. We discovered later that a severe wind warning had just issued and the Race Committee had wisely decided to send us home for an early shower, rather than face the prospect of eight boats in trouble at the top of the Harbour when the storm hit. (As it turned out, the seemingly threatening, dark cumulus clouds building in the south west soon dissipated, sparing the Harbour from the forecasted storm).

Yendys heard the shorten course broadcast just 100 metres from the mark and finished first at the Kurraba mark. A4 had maintained the separation on the run and was second, 2 minutes behind Yendys. Scot put another feather in the caps of her trainers and trainees with a really good third place, 20 seconds ahead of the fast-finishing Aberdare. They were followed by Tangalooma who had done well to beat Alruth, Australia and The Mistake.

Of course, apart from the early showers and early refreshment for crews, the real winners from a shortened course are usually the back markers who enjoy a favourable time correction normally calculated for a longer race. With the handicaps applied, Scot took the chocolates with a 1 minute win from A4, with Tangalooma a minute back in third.

It’s on again in 2 weeks when we shall be sharing the Harbour with the Modern 18s in their first heat of the JJs. It will be a spectacular sight with several generations of 18 footers on display. Not to be missed!

Next Saturday … Squaddie work parties, boat maintenance, Sail Grand Prix and an ale or two …

Next Saturday the 28th is a lay-day with most of the Harbour out of play due to Sail Grand Prix.

If you don’t plan to be out there on your gin palace, then join us at the Squaddie for what promises to be a fun afternoon when we shall attend to some jobs around the boatshed (mainly involving the repair and re-fastening of the rafts that keep our RIBs out of the water) Some of us will sort out repairs and maintenance on our skiffs and then gather in the Heritage boardroom to watch the crazy cats in the Grand Prix in their three races late on Saturday afternoon. It will be the usual sailors’ drinks pricing at the bar.

It promises to be a great afternoon. So, no excuses … get your body to the Squaddie!

Sail GP race times are 17.30 to 19.00. Any time after 14.00 will be a good time to be there to lend a hand.

The printed report, with its photographs, is on the page for Race Report 21 February 2026 in the news archive.