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Chris Cope
Skipper
Australia
2350 Posts |
 Posted - 08 March 2008 : 09:07:40 AM
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Last nights twilighter at Manly YC was quite an interesting event. It was forecast to be light but freshened from the south east and most of the fair-weather sailors stayed away. Rod had other commitments and there was only Old Pete and myself aboard the Hagar. We went off at 6.25pm back among the 40 footers. We sailed with a full main and the new number three jib. Pete steered and I pulled all the strings. We sailed fairly well and finished among the 40's at the finish.
The interesting part however was getting back onto the mooring in the dark with a front coming through with howling winds, driving rain and with lightening and thunder. It took over a dozen attempts until we finally picked up the mooring and tied it down. We were not alone with a 41 footer having the same nearby. In the rain and wind you just could not see the buoy and rope as well as being blown sideways.
Finally got back to the club wet through with Rod waiting with the beers.
Chris. |
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Chris Cope
Skipper
Australia
2350 Posts |
Posted - 15 March 2008 : 12:12:03 PM
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Last night we sailed in a north easterly twilighter at Manly. The conditions were moderate to fresh with the wind up to 15 & 16 knots in the Sound. We sailed with the big rig and had a six man crew. Unfortunately two were slightly intoxicated having had a big day out in town. We went off on 23 minutes past 6pm among the 33 to 40 footers, having come back from a 25 minute handicap from last week. We finished mid-fleet in about 12th place across the line.
We would like to see the Drumesq sailing in this fleet as they would clean up in the first race with the only other E24 a slow boat and I'm sure that the Drumesq would blow them away.
We have the offshore Sydney to Pittwater on next Friday morning and then the last twilighter for the season.
Chris.
Chris. |
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Go Flow
Helmsman
Australia
751 Posts |
Posted - 16 March 2008 : 9:41:50 PM
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Hi Chris,
I just spent the weekend on Sydney Harbour with Captain Cook Cruises and witnessed many yacht races sailed in what I would call pathetic conditions. I didn't see any windward work in the twilight races from the river up to the heads, it looked like everyone was having a good time however. On Sunday morning I saw one fleet start a race near Camp Cove about 10.30 am and head slowly out thorough the heads in drift like conditions. Amoung the fleet was a maroon E26. (Not Clewless) Who would this be and what club would be running the race, he seemed to be holding his own with much larger yachts. I noticed Clewless heading out much later near Cremorne Point.
Adrian |
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Chris Cope
Skipper
Australia
2350 Posts |
Posted - 17 March 2008 : 12:29:07 PM
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Hi there adrian,
Friday nights twilighter was only moderate and there was not much of a work for us up in the northern end of the harbour. It was better south of the heads. Sunday was light and our race was from North Harbour to the islands off BSC down the river and back home to North Harbour. We had only three starters and it was a long race which took about five hours. We wone by fifteen minutes in lightlish conditions which came in slowly. We sighted two black hulled E24's. There are a lot of Endeavour yachts hiding around the coves of three wings of Sydney Harbour. In the coming seasons we must organise an annual Endeavour Regatta for the Sydney Yachts. The trouble is that a lot are simply mooring minders.
Chris. |
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Chris Cope
Skipper
Australia
2350 Posts |
Posted - 22 March 2008 : 8:04:36 PM
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Just got in from North Harbour having delivered the Hagar back from Pittwater in some really bumpy conditions. As reported earlier we were the smallest boat in the fleet and it was an 11.00am scratch start from Manly up to the harbour bell mark in the sound. It was fresh blowing up to 25 knots in the gusts but mainly 15 to 20 in the harbour. The fleet was about a dozen yachts with the largest being a Beneteau First 44.5 and with an assortment of mainly 41's down to 33 footers. We got a good start but a 41 barged us on the line and then dumped on us as we avoided hitting them. We were third last around the top mark and then reached out to sea. I steered up the work and then old David Parsons took the helm and steered well downwind to just past Long Reef and then Rod took over to the finish. The race was not without incident with gusts up to 30 knots and seas were quite big which made for some good surfing. Were were only one of three yachts who carried a kite with most opting to pole out the jibs and play it safe. Our small orange and black kite was very safe and we reached 11.6 knots on the log and an amazing 13 knots on the GPS in short bursts. We cleared out from the two boats behind and closed up on the fleet in front. However it all came undone when we had a flush of blood and went for a jibe off Barrenjoey. Someone forgot to ease the kicker and I cold not get the pole off the mast and when they released kicker they id not pull on the new sheet. During this the boat fell off a wave and I crashed to the gunnel and sustained ankle and a knee injury. When we came out of the jibe the kite had wrapped itself around the fore stay and jib halyard. It would just not come out even with both Rod and I working on the bow. We had to sail under main only into the lee of Barrenjoey where we started the motor, dropped main and Rod was all set up to go up the mast in chair. During this half an hour of confusion we had to watch the two following yachts sail past. As Rod was being hoisted up the mast the bloody kite miraculously unwound itself. We pulled the kite down, hoisted the main and took off after the fleet. We past Eos and closed on Ratty but had given them too much.
We finished second last on Handicap and scratch.
Next Race we will sail smarter, we hope.
Rod and I motor sailed home after breakfast in big seas and it was a most unpleasant trip and I was sick, yet again.
Chris. |
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Chris Cope
Skipper
Australia
2350 Posts |
Posted - 27 March 2008 : 10:37:13 AM
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This Friday night sees the Hagar racing in the last twilighter of the season with Manly Yacht Club. On Sunday we will have the second last race at North Harboyr SC for the season and then on the Sunday of the 27th of April we will be competing in the Manly YC final Offshore Race of the season which is a Longitude Offshore Race.
And so the season will hame to a close at the end of next month.
Chris. |
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Chris Cope
Skipper
Australia
2350 Posts |
Posted - 29 March 2008 : 11:33:00 AM
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Last nights' twilighter at Manly started well for us with a moderate to light east to south-easterly. We had the new number one head sail on and were going well across the sound going up to the rounding mark of the Sow & Pigs. Andy was steering and the rest of us were mainly on the rail with old Pete trimming the head sail to lee would. As we approached the eastern pole of the Pigs and were just behind a J24. The breeze eased and we moved off the gunnel to leeward.
We received a gust and as the boat leaned to leeward there was a bang and crash as we first hit the top of the pole with the head sail which tore through a couple of panels, then the shroud hit the top and there was a "twang-bang" as most of the outer strands of the cap-stay parted and the gunnel rode up onto pole at water level. There was no damage to the hull but the shroud was history and the jib will require some mending.
We immediately dropped the sails and motored home. What was also disturbing was that the VHS radio was also out and as it was working fine last weekend off shore. We suspect that there may be a damaged cable inside the mast.
This will end up being a small insurance job and was a sad finish to the twilighter series and puts us out of tomorrows Club Race.
**** Happens!!!
Chris. |
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Chris Cope
Skipper
Australia
2350 Posts |
Posted - 31 March 2008 : 5:55:10 PM
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Yesterday's North Harbour SC race began without the Hagar, which is tied up and will require a new starboard side caps-stay as well as the big jib being mended.
I sailed with old David Parsons aboard his timber Carmen 31. She is a fine old lady with just about everything being timber and is much heavier than the Hagar. But she is a goer and is a safe stable platform and tracks beautifully through the water.
We started from Manly and were becalmed off flagstaff headland in the sound and watched as the Dumaresq caught every puff of wind and ran us down and then passed under and around us up into Middle Harbour. They then skipped away in the light westerly up to Manly and disappeared up the Harbour and while we struggled in the shifting westerly puffs they were unseen until we took off under kite across the sound and sailed up to Taylor's Bay where we found the boys becalmed. We got to within 50 feet and were becalmed together. They then got the first westerly puff and we chased them down and actually passed them as they lay becalmed off middle head. Unfortunately we pulled down the kite and within a minute a blast from the south west took the Dumeresq boys past us. We again caught and nosed ahead off Dobroyd head and they skipped away to beat us by a few boat lengths.
A very trying breeze indeed in a new boat.
Chris. |
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Chris Cope
Skipper
Australia
2350 Posts |
Posted - 13 April 2008 : 6:02:01 PM
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Today's race at North Harbour was the last for the season and unfortunately Rod was away with his family in South Australia. Andy, myself and two casual crew members were aboard. We started out in a moderate southerly with predictions of a storm fount coming through later. We were in a number three jib and should have been in a number one or two. We were slow upwind and when I went to hoist the number two kite found it was not packed so we went for the number one. We had a good run down the harbour after some early stuff ups with the boys in the cockpit.
When we were on the second work up the harbour the front arrived and it was fun with lightening, howling winds and gusts with driving rain. Unfortunately Andy got cold feet and pulled the pin and sailed home. [:-banghead]
Rod will be back for the last offshore in two weeks.
Chris. |
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Chris Cope
Skipper
Australia
2350 Posts |
Posted - 28 April 2008 : 9:29:09 PM
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Yesterdays' offshore race with the Manly YC was a bit of a let-down with the Race Committee deciding that with a strong wind warning forecast and possible gale force winds late in the day or evening, that they would sail instead a harbour marathon course.
We got off to a flying spinnaker start with a run from Manly to Shark Island in a gusty north westerly.
We went well on the run and lost a bit in the mess of the CYC start line on the eastern end of shark island. We stayed with a bunch of yachts and left one behind. We were catching the bunch but lost a lot off Balmain in the light and fluky winds there. We carried a tight kite to the Drummoyne YC, but had to tack up the channel. We lost a bit more there but on the final work up-harbour the breeze piped in and we closed up dramatically with the new big head sail on. We finished second last but it was a scratch start and Rod seemed to think that we did not do too badly.
This afternoon I looked up the results on the net and found we were beaten into third place by 46 seconds from the winner on handicap.
Chris. |
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Dumaresq
Main Sheet Hand
117 Posts |
Posted - 30 April 2008 : 12:01:32 AM
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Hey Chris, Good to see the Hagar out last Sunday, looked like she was handling the wind quite well with the small headsail up.
I know what you mean about the CYCA starts, we had a bit on with the 60 last weekend only 3 regular crew out of 17 due to the long weekend, still did 15-16kn running downwind in the gusts, it was nice to have some good breeze for a change.
See you on Saturday at the NHSC presentation BBQ. We will have to bring down the National and State trophies for some show and tell. Not bad for a club with only a few boats. |
Stuart
http://s269.photobucket.com/albums/jj43/nthhbr/?albumview=link
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Chris Cope
Skipper
Australia
2350 Posts |
Posted - 15 September 2008 : 10:33:08 AM
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Well North Harbour Sailing Clubs season got off to a fine start yesterday and although there were only four starters, no Dunaeresq, it was a great days racing. David our handicapper had changed the courses so that the larger and smaller yachts came into contact at both of the windward marks and there was close racing for everyone. The Hagar was fastest and finished third over the line from a handicap start. We only managed to reel in Davids 31 footer in the stronger beat up the final work.
Looking forward to the next race in two weeks as wel as the start of the twilighters at the start of October.
Chris, |
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Chris Cope
Skipper
Australia
2350 Posts |
Posted - 23 September 2008 : 4:55:54 PM
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This coming weekend will see the second race at North Harbour SC. Hope to see you there Stewart with the full crew and will there be any more E24's?
Crafty old David has a new number one head sail as well as new bigger mainsail so we will have to watch him closely. And especially the handicaps he hands out. In the last race two weeks ago Rod accused him of sand-bagging, as he would not put up the new main. However only David and Johnny Bombadier were aboard. But then again we were only three up and the third is a first timer aboard the Hagar.
Chris. |
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Dumaresq
Main Sheet Hand
117 Posts |
Posted - 25 September 2008 : 10:30:24 AM
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Hey Chris,
We will be out on Sunday, still have quite a bit of work to do to get her ready but at least the mast is up.
The boat is still full of gear from the Hammo trip so we will have to come alongside to get out.
I will also have my two girls coming with us so I might have to spend sometime down below reading to them.All good fun though they enjoy going sailing (normally).
I'm wondering if David is still making us start 5 mins after you guy's? Bit rough if you ask me. |
Stuart
http://s269.photobucket.com/albums/jj43/nthhbr/?albumview=link
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Chris Cope
Skipper
Australia
2350 Posts |
Posted - 25 September 2008 : 10:40:26 AM
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I have no idea what the handicaps are at present, only that we started well behind David and caught him going up into North Harbour out of Middle Harbour. He is still quick in the light stuff but we reeled him in when it got heavy up the last work.
Check the club board on Sunday as he had the handicaps up last week. He also has a new mainsail which he will no doubt save as a surprise. Looking forward to sailing against you on Sunday.
Chris. |
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Chris Cope
Skipper
Australia
2350 Posts |
Posted - 28 September 2008 : 4:45:33 PM
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Today's race was a parade with a mixed North west to westerly blowing all over the shop. Dumeresq was late for the start and a long way behind and it was difficult to see if they were quicker or slower. It was a little boat race and we were well back and did not hoist any kites due to the extremely gusty conditions. We were fourth over the line and have no idea how we went on time. Nonetheless it was a good days sailing and we got back to the mooring to find that our plastic dinghy as been run over by another yacht, holed and our bouy has been cut through at the top handle end. We are informed by a neighbouring yacht that an Etchell 22 ran her down and it is owned by the local Marina owner.
Chris.
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Dumaresq
Main Sheet Hand
117 Posts |
Posted - 28 September 2008 : 7:54:14 PM
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Chris when you start 5 mins in front on a boat that is 6 ft longer and it's blowing 20+ knots it's little wonder why you didn't see us all day.
We were only 30 seconds late for the start and to keep us on our toes and show you big boats that it's not difficult to sail with a kite in heavy air we hoisted it on every downwind or reaching leg.
You need to get Chris and Pete to stop puffing on the bungers and hold a sheet every now and then and you would be able to get one up.
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Stuart
http://s269.photobucket.com/albums/jj43/nthhbr/?albumview=link
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Chris Cope
Skipper
Australia
2350 Posts |
Posted - 04 October 2008 : 07:44:34 AM
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I don't know what the time difference was but it looked like we were about a a leg, from Manly to Flagstaff in front of you. Next week you'll just have to get to the start line earlier. And yes the conditions were good for the longer boats. We made little impression upon David in his Carmen 31 footer, although we believe he went of two minutes early. Could that possibly be the Handicappers discretion? I'd like to know what his waterline length is. Hagar's waterline is only about 26 foot.
Next weekend will see us in the third race of the season and on Friday the 24th we commence racing the twilighter races with Manly Yacht Club.
Hopefully Rod & I will get the boat up to Cat 4 this weekend with some purchases as well as recruiting Old Pete to inspect the Hagar this time.
Chris. |
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Chris Cope
Skipper
Australia
2350 Posts |
Posted - 24 October 2008 : 9:07:00 PM
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This evening was the opening race of the MYC Friday night twilighter series for 2008-2009. There was the biggest number of starters which we have seen for this end of the season with 28 starters. It was a nice evening except that there was very little wind and it took an hour and a half to run down from Manly to the Sow and Pigs Reef. With time running out we started the iron sail half way up the work as it was 8.15pm which was the limit. There were only two yachts who finished.
We will be racing at North Harbour SC this coming Sunday with more wind forecast.
Chris. |
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Chris Cope
Skipper
Australia
2350 Posts |
Posted - 27 October 2008 : 1:35:10 PM
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Yesterday saw a nice little north easterly breeze on the harbour and there were very few craft on the waters where we race. There were three yachts in our division and we had a close finish with, of course, the handicapper winning, followed by Hagar and the Dumaresq.
Of interest to all the E24 sailors was the fact that Stewart and the boys aboard the Dumaresq were fastest.
Chris. |
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Topic |
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SAILING REPORTS ON '30's
