Miss PIBB takes the NSW Title

Hamish Jarrett, May Hayman and Chris Pearson have taken out the 2015 International Yngling NSW State Championships.  The regatta was held in conjunction with the 10th anniversary Sydney Harbour Regatta and saw the Yngling fleet with 10 competitors, the largest one design fleet in the regatta.

Nineteen different divisions raced across eight course areas with over 180 crews participating in the 10th anniversary Sydney Harbour Regatta.  Light weather ensured that most fleets started a little late on the first day of racing while the race committee waited for the wind to settle in.

On Course Area A run by Royal Prince Edward race officials, James McKenzie racing AUS23 (Jaws) was eager to get going and was the only individual recall for the first race of the regatta.  AUS60 (Miss Pibb) rounded the top mark first closely followed by AUS59 (Evie) and AUS45 (Karma).  AUS59 and AUS60 split at the bottom gate mark with AUS59 choosing the left hand side of the course, and more favourable out going tide.  By the top mark AUS59 had a three  boat length lead, which they maintained to the finish line.

Race two had a number of boats at the pin testing the race committees’ observation skills.  After the Individual recall flag was flown, Gary Wogas AUS45 and Hamish Jarrett AUS60 chose to go back but youth sailor Nick Rozenauers on AUS48 (Shining Star), and Ellis Todres on AUS40 (Debacle) opted to continue racing only to be disqualified with an OCS at the end of the race.  Quite possibly if these boats had their radios on Chanel 71, instead of 73 they would have picked up the individual recalls.

Hamish Jarrett and crew sailed an incredible race to come back up through the fleet and take the win for the second race of the day.

Two wins either side of a second place gave triple Olympian Karyn Gojnich, Ruth McCance and Alex Murray on AUS59 (Evie) the over night lead from Hamish Jarrett with Miss Pibb, who squeezed a win between two second places.

“It was great to see so many Ynglings (10) on the start line and to be on Sydney Harbour at its best,” said Gojnich who last represented Australia at the 2008 Olympics in the Yngling.

Of the conditions, Gojnich said: “You had to be on your toes today; there was an outgoing tide and a shifty breeze that couldn’t decide if it wanted to be north-east or east-north-east – the races certainly weren’t over till they were over,” she ended.

Unfortunately there was more drama onshore as Gary Pearce on AUS56 saw his mast crumple as the tip caught under the crane arm when coming out of the water in a very low tide.

Sunday morning saw all boats rig up their light weather jibs and crews doubtful of even getting a race in with forecast winds below 10 knots from the south east.

Racing did get underway with the wind shifting from 160 degrees to 180 degrees.  There was plenty of congestion with race course areas overlapping but it all contributed to great racing with the game of snakes and ladders not being over until the finish line was crossed.

There were many challenges afloat with a few boats racing two up on Sunday, and AUS57 Robyn Grosvenor was struggling to keep her mainsail in the halyard lock.  Very happy to report no man overboard drills required over the weekend.

Overall regatta places went down to finishing positions in the last race.  As a no drop regatta every race counted.

To watch the racing

Saturday March 7, 2015 http://tacktracker.com/cloud/home/AIYA/races/829942781

Sunday March 8, 2015 http://tacktracker.com/cloud/home/AIYA/races/1801127548