A Class State Championship

NWRYC has published the final results and a precis of the weekend's sailing. Thanks for Ian "Dicko" Dickinson for his words and to both Ian and Jack Russell for their photographic work over the weekend.

The contrast between Day 1 and Day 2 was significant.

Day 1
Conditions were very light to no breeze, a delayed start, then with only 3 races being completed, a late lunch was called. Before an early finish was decided, and an earlier start time declared for day 2.

Day 2
The day was extended by an hour we lost from Day 1, an earlier start time. This time we had a good NW breeze, and a forecast for it to strengthen. The racing started on time and the fleet certainly enjoyed the conditions.
As the morning progressed the wind did increase, and at lunch the search for smaller rigs was on in earnest. One retirement at this stage with rudder servo issues, and a couple of DNF's with repairs to rigging as the stresses increased.
At the resumption after lunch, the wind had picked up to a constant 15-18knts, with some much stronger gusts really sending the large A's to maximum speeds, with many being flattened. This now caused many skippers some major breakages, with one sailing a borrowed boat also deciding to exit before damage occurred. So race 13 saw the fleet retire 4 more boats. The remaining five yachts continued to complete 5 more challenging races with 4 different winners, then with more one retirement in the the last.
As a regular A Class competitor it was different, but a great experience being on the bank officiating and watching all the fleet competing in such varied conditions, and watching the fleet of talented A sailors our state has competing. Some of the best in Australia. Although the competition was extremely fierce through the fleet, the championship was sailed in great spirits.
Thanks firstly, to all the competitors for conducting themselves so well over the weekend, to Maurice, for collating the scores and ensuring club gear was supplied, to John who after having to retire, came back to assist in the pack up, and a special mention to Anne Cole-Cook who offered to help at the finish line in the cold on Day 2. Thankyou.

Ian "Dicko" Dickinson