Note Victorian 2010/2011 Calendar is out. The results of the Owners Survey are in the Owners Area of the web site
News from Geoff Bonus July 2010
Hi All NSW Sydney 38 Owners
First of all best of luck and fair sailing to Swish,
Eleni, The Goat, J Steel and Zen for the Sydney Gold Coast yacht race starting
tomorrow. The forecast and routing shows that this could be a small boat yacht
race so do not be suprised if you see a 38 on the podium, as per the 2009
Hobart race. Staying ahead of the Archie 31 with the Tow Truck boys on board
may be the big challenge.
Some important dates...
AGM Septemeber 15 at RSYS. An agenda and resolutions for
voting will be out early next month. Get there if you can and if you cannot
please be sure and provide your proxy as we will be voting on sails, crew
weight, mastheads etc.
NSW STATE TITLES 2010
Will be hald at RSYS Fri 29/Sat 30/Sun 31 October.
Separate emails will begin late August regardinmg this event but we would like
to get an idea of entries asap to assist with planning for the regatta. Let's
make this another fabulous event. There will be free berthing in the pond from
RSYS, beers and a BBQ on the dock on after racing Friday and lots more. PLease
get organised and put this in youir sailing calendar.
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS 2011
Will be held at Geelong Race Week. Think 18-22 knots of
SW and dead flat water every afternoon and you will get the picture. The Vics
are arranging this event, the 38 Nationals are the main attraction and they
have boats coming from SA and TAS to attend. Early indications are 13 entries
PLUS any NSW boats attending.
IF YOU ARE A POSSIBLE/PROBABLE FOR THIS EVENT PLEASE LET
ME KNOW BY RETURN EMAIL ASAP SO I CAN LET THE ORGANISERS PLAN FOR THE EVENT.
This season the focus will be on a smaller number of
bigger and better attended One Design events. and a draft calendar will be
available early August.
Please forward these dates to your key crew and start
training now!
Cheers all
Geoff Bonus
Sydney 38OD Australian Championship - X3 wins the 2010 title
Sun, 14 Feb 2010
'X3 crew work the Bow - 2010 SYDNEY 38 ONE DESIGN AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIP'
Tom Spithill
The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia's Michael McMahon X3 lived up to their name with three consistent days of sailing to win the 2010 Sydney 38 Australian Championship, hosted by the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, on Pittwater today.
The Race Committee was met with some tough decisions early on the third day of the Sydney 38 National Championship. Pittwater's unkind weather continued, with little to no wind and a flat sea state. The predicted wind throughout the day was for a building sea breeze, however, early conditions indicated that it would not come true. The RPAYC mark boat ventured offshore at 10am to investigate the weather and 'fish for breeze' but soon returned inside Pittwater with the gloomy report. At approximately 1130hrs, a small E-SE breeze built from inside Pittwater and RO Steve Merrington got his first chance at racing. A 6nm course was set at 090degress to see the first start of the day (Race 6) at 1215hrs.
Race six of the regatta was a close start that saw the vast majority of the fleet favour the pin end. Congestion and a shifting breeze took a handful of boats over the line early only to have the fleet called back with a general recall. Second start this time saw the fleet get away cleanly and venture into building pressure. Both sides of the course were contested fairly evenly, however, Geoff Bonus' ‘Calibre' rounded the top mark first and held his lead for the remainder of the race. In second place Mark Griffiths 'Old School' held out Bruce Foye's 'The Goat' to clinch third spot and their first podium finish of the regatta, by only a boat length. Further down the results saw the pointscore's leaders ('X3' and 'Stonybroke') finishing 9th and 12th respectively.
The CYCA’s Michael McMahon’s ’X3’, the epitome of consistency crowned the 2010 Sydney 38 Australian Champion - 2010 Sydney 38 Australian Championship Tom Spithill
The Race Committee soon turned the fleet around for the second race of the day, which started in similar conditions as the first. The start line was evenly contested by most of the fleet, however, this time saw the port side of the course favoured on the first beat. 'Acuity', 'X3', 'Cinquante' and 'Audacious Conspiracy' were evenly matched around the course with the lead changing several times. The course changed to a northerly shifting breeze that didn't disturb the fleet too much and the last downwind cemented the deal for Victorian Ian Murray on 'Cinquante', their best finish of the event with a narrow victory over defending champion 'Acuity' and the veteran Lou Abrahams 'The Audacious Conspiracy'.
After a short delay due to yet another change in the breeze, PRO Steve Merrington was able to lower the AP flag and get ready for the third and final race of the day and regatta. The breeze built to its strongest of the day with an easterly 5-8 knots. In the pre-start of the final race of the Championship, nervous faces were evident on board 'X3', 'Old School' and 'The Zen Challenge' who showed the real story of the pointscore with only one point separating each of the top three. Ian Guanaria on ‘The Tavern' had the best start and led from the other good starters in 'Outlaw' and 'Risk'. In the building pressure, early leader 'The Tavern', consolidated his lead with some good crew work and sharp spinnaker sets to take the last race. 'X3' came from behind after a shaky start to take second place closely followed by 'Acuity' for third spot. 'Old School' and 'The Zen Challenge' finished in 6th and 7th respectively to consolidate their overall positions on the podium to finalise the 2010 Sydney 38 Australian Championship.
With the completion of eight races, the CYCA's Michael McMahon's 'X3' (36 points) has been crowned Sydney 38 Australian Champion for 2010 at the prize giving at the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club. RPAYC's Mark Griffith on 'Old School' was awarded 2nd place on 41 points with third spot going to talented veteran Sydney 38 sailor Lou Abrahams and his crew on 'The Zen Challenge' on 43 points, representing the SYS.
Boat of the day was awarded to defending champion, RPAYC's Tony Walls 'Acuity' who finished the back end of the regatta well ending in 4th spot on 51 points but was a case of 'too little, too late' this time around.
Final places of the 2010 Sydney 38 Australian Championship:
RPAYC’s Tony Wall’s ’Acuity’ awarded ’Boat of the Day’ had the best finish at the back end of the regatta but it was "too liitle, too late" for the defending champion - 2010 Sydney 38 Australian Championship Tom Spithill
RPAYC’s Mark Griffith’s ’Old School’ and SYC’s Lou Abraham’s ’The Zen Challenge’ finished second and third respectively in the 2010 Sydney 38 Australian Championship - 2010 Sydney 38 Australian Championship Tom Spithill
2011 Nationals Geelong