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1st March February 2025
Post Xmas Comp - Heat #5

Photos by Dan Parkin

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Clarence River Sailing Club

Saturday 1st March 2025
Post Xmas Comp - Heat #5

Members enjoyed first-class sailing conditions on Saturday for the fifth heat of the Club’s Post Xmas Pointscore Series. The ENE breeze was leisurely at first but soon built to around 8 knots with the odd gust even higher. Frequent wind shifts and a strong run-out tide provided plenty of challenges and kept crews on their toes.

A highly motivated fleet contested the program with very experienced crews in both the monohull and catamaran divisions. The cats were assigned a single four-lap marathon while the monohulls contested three quick one-lap sprints. In sprint racing, strong starts are essential and skippers on Saturday timed them perfectly. A modified easterly course was set with duel leeward marks – one at Cowans Creek and the other at the Rowing Club. This layout provided lots of fast off-wind sailing and some remarkably quick race times.

Hobie 18 crew Lindsay Cowan and Tansie Higgins won the catamaran division. An easy sail for them after competing in last week’s Big River Regatta at Harwood. They cruised around the gruelling four lap circuit and crossed the finish in just under 90 minutes. Nacra 16 skipper Ben Higgins pushed them in the early stages but a rigging problem put him out of contention and forced an early retirement.

In a first for the Club in many years, members were delighted to have a trailer sailer join the ranks. Skipper Luke Denham, ably supported by crew members Tom and Ryan skilfully navigated their classic Careel 18 forerunner around the tight course and completed a very respectable two laps.

The monohull fleet sailed three single-lap sprint races which ensured plenty of action on the busy start line. Despite some close encounters, quick reflexes and nimble boat handling kept everyone out of trouble. Peter Zietsch (Laser) took out the prize in Race #1 after finding a favourable lift on the return leg. Deb Parkin (Laser) finished a close second, followed by Dennis Boyd (Laser) in third. Turning the tables in Race 2, Deb got away to a brilliant start and carefully defended her lead through to the finish. Paul Smyth (NS14) launched a very spirited pursuit but was unable to close the gap sufficiently to change the results. Peter Zietsch was next home in third. Fortunes reversed again in Race #3 with Peter back in the lead, Deb second and Paul Smyth third. Competition was ultra-tight in all three races and the results could have easily swung in any direction.

See the website for full results.

A big thanks to race official Bob Fish and Dan Parkin on the rescue boat and photos.

Weather permitting, sailing is on again next Saturday (8th) for Heat #6 of the Post Xmas Series

Visitors or anyone wanting to have a go at sailing are most welcome to come along. Start time is around 1.00 pm on Saturdays.

More details on our website. https://crsc.yachting.org.au

Results

Recorded Time	Elapsed Time	YS	YS Cr'd Time	Class	Skipper	Crew	Sail No
RACE 1
Small boats (One lap)
00:31:55	00:27:55	114.0	00:24:29	Laser	P Zietsch		143427
00:34:20	00:30:20	118.5	00:25:36	Laser Radial	D Parkin		176906
00:33:45	00:29:45	114.0	00:26:06	Laser	D Boyd		198104
00:34:10	00:30:10	114.0	00:26:28	Laser	S Neilands		143362
00:32:45	00:28:45	108.0	00:26:37	NS14	P Smyth		1954

Big boats (four laps)
01:27:05	01:24:05	76.5	01:49:55	Hobie 18	L Cowan	T Higgins	16550
DNF		76.5		Nacra 16 Sq S Sloop	B Higgins		69
DNF				Careel 18	L Denham	Tommy, Ryan	18


RACE 2
Small boats (One lap)
00:30:35	00:27:35	118.5	00:23:17	Laser Radial	D Parkin		176906
00:29:10	00:26:10	108.0	00:24:14	NS14	P Smyth		1954
00:31:05	00:28:05	114.0	00:24:38	Laser	P Zietsch		143427
00:31:30	00:28:30	114.0	00:25:00	Laser	D Boyd		198104
00:32:45	00:29:45	114.0	00:26:06	Laser	S Neilands		143362


RACE 3
Small boats (One lap)
00:28:55	00:25:55	114.0	00:22:44	Laser	P Zietsch		143427
00:30:45	00:27:45	118.5	00:23:25	Laser Radial	D Parkin		176906
00:28:20	00:25:20	108.0	00:23:27	NS14	P Smyth		1954
00:29:55	00:26:55	114.0	00:23:37	Laser	D Boyd		198104
00:30:10	00:27:10	114.0	00:23:50	Laser	S Neilands		143362

1/03/2025
Bob Fish officiating, Dan Parkin rescue boat & photos
Greg Lee - race registrar