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October 19 & 20th 07. Venue Scarborough
Park Sydney.
This regatta came about through the efforts to Frank
Linney, the President of the Nautic 12 Association of New Zealand. He
thought a regatta between Australia and New Zealand would be a good way to
cement relationships with our two countries in the beaut new class of Nautic
12s. Up to now while the class is recognized in New Zealand, it has to go
some ways before this happen in this country.
Well we met them after they flew in on the aeroplane
on the Thursday. They hired a van to take their boats around, while in
Sydney. And we met them to show them the way to their accommodation at
Hairoil’s place in the eastern suburbs of Sydney. Hairoil agreed and had the
room to do that. After a spot of lunch after they arrived they wanted to see
the pond that they were going to race on for the next 2 days. It is situated
in the southern suburbs near Botany Bay, where Capt. Cook landed all those
years ago.
Of course the pond was in magnificent condition and a
steady East- nor-east was blowing down it in a steady 6 to 7 knots. It was
perfect.
The next day we arrived at the pond and the weather
was hot and the wind was a light South – Easterly, that sort of shifted
around a bit. In fact this is the wind us Ancient Mariners really like, for
we get a kick out of picking the wind shifts. Obviously our visitors didn’t
like what they saw with the shifting conditions, but who controls the wind?
As we set up our boats we found that there were 4 Kiwis
and 5 Aussie there to race for the first International Nautic 12
Invitational Event. The local paper, The St George Leader sent a
photographer to do a story about this regatta put on by the local Ancient
Mariners. We of course had our own photographer, Doug Burnside, who was
going to give us a few shots of this historical event. So we all lined up to
get our photos done. Somehow two of the skippers missed out on the photo
shoot for they were late.
We set up the course and had a control area for the
skippers to stay in , thinking that everyone could hear calls of “starboard”
etc, to give everyone sailing with the rules, a fair go.
The races kicked off at 10.00am as planned. We were
in the shade under some big trees near the start line. The start line was
also the finish line. All the course buoys were in a fixed position and the
course could be moved by using some additional marks close by.
There were some interested spectators from other clubs
that had come to watch the action.
Well it took some time for the Kiwis to get use to the
changing conditions. With the wind being light and shifting. I heard the
bloke from the Woolongong club say that after two races he was thoroughly
worn out concentrating in keeping his boat really going in the wind shifts.
And it did effect our visitors. They said they had come prepared with
special jibs.
One Boat, called “Pot of Gold” KZ21 raced by Jim Brown
of NZ didn’t seem to have the same trouble as the other boats for it was in
beautiful tune and went really quickly even in these light conditions. This
shifty wind kept up all day and after a much needed rest / lunch stop we
restarted for the afternoon session. At the end of the first day KZ21 1st,
KA7 2nd, KZ19 third.
That night we adjourned to the Maroubra Seals Club on
the shores of the Pacific Ocean. This club has a name for having a really
good dinner at prices you would go a long way to beat and only a stones
throw from Hairoil’s. This is one place in Sydney where the food is heaped
on your plate and the crew got into the swing of eating here every night.
After dinner we really got into the Legends and Tall Tales about Kiwi
Sailing, although we managed to tell the odd one as well. We though we might
drink them under the table and they would not be in a fit state to race the
next day. But ,,, Alas, we all had had it by 8.30 pm and agreed to sort it
out the next day, with a bit of wind.
The next day the wind was light and shifty again. The
Kiwis reckoned there was a conspiracy going on and someone had turned off
the wind tap (We wish). Sure enough, it was another day of the shifty winds
but if I may say it was slightly better than the day before because the
kiwis’ were not saying too much.
“Pot of Gold” was out of the blocks early but his run
was not to last. For a couple of races later he started to record some
seconds and thirds to add to his score. For KA3 “Emma” took a win off him
and so did KA1 “Southern Cross”& KA7 “Anterres” had a go as well, to make
things interesting. Of course “Pot of Gold” had won so many wins, nobody was
going to touch his score but we were still in there trying. At about this
time KA1 was stringing some good races together and coming up with a lot of
seconds, which helped his tally. The regatta finished about 3.00pm after 19
races all told and two drops .
The results being:
FIRST KZ21 Jim Brown, Pot of Gold.
Second KA7 Warren Norrie, Anterres.
Equal Third. KA1 & KZ19.
KZ19 Nevill Beetson got 3rd after count
back.
KA1, Steve Crewes, Southern Cross.
Fifth KZ10
Sixth KA3
Seventh KZ14
Eighth KA2
Ninth KA13
Note* 1 point separated 2nd and the equal
3rds places.
The Trophies was presented to the winners.
KZ14 won the prize for the best presented NZ boat and
KA7 won for the best presented boat for the Aussies.
We then adjourned to the Georges River 16 ft Sailing
Club on Botany Bay. To sort out the order of shouts. All the photos in this
article were done by Doug Burnside.
Steve. Ancient Mariners (Sydney)
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