Latest News From Yachting Western Australia

 Latest News From Yachting Western Australia

YWA President Denys Pearce, Vice President Mark Fitzhardinge, Board Member Jim Suffield and WAIS Coach Belinda Stowell at the State Team Announcement

Best Bib and Tucker as YWA Sailing Team Prepares for Podium at Youth Champs

The upcoming Australian Youth Championships in Melbourne will see Stage I of the exciting revival of the Yachting WA Sailing Team.  The team announced at the October 2013 WA State Youth Championships in Rockingham comprises top sailors over three classes 420s, Lasers and 29ers.  These recognized youth classes are deemed suitable feeder classes for the program.

The program has been developed to be an underpinning program to WAIS.  Westsail, although a very successful program in itself which has been running for 34 years, is not the end of the road for our inspiring young athletes to move from this level into the West Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS) program and beyond.

When the YWAST program is fully rolled out in 2014, it will also include the YWA Development Squad (YWADS), which will be made up of sailors with potential in the sport.  The top athletes from the State Development Squad may be selected into the YWA Sailing Team (YWAST), and will be supported at national events.

It is also recognises that not all sailors want to compete at the highest level at these events, some of these young people simply compete at events such as the Australian Youth Championships for the experience and this program will also support those athletes by means on a tee-shirt and sailing bib.

All Western Australian sailors who are going to the Australian Youth Championships will proudly wear the shirt and bib branded with the YWA logo whilst the YWAST sailors will wear a Gill supplied bib branded with the YWA Sate Team logo.  Regardless of their sailing level and abilities all athletes will be competing as part of WA Sailing and we wish them all the very best as they take to the water from 6^th to 10^th January 2014.

This year the athletes selected in their chosen class are as follows:

Laser 4.7 - No sailors selected in 2013

Laser Radial (8) - Chris Charlwood, Marcus Fisk, Lachy Gilham, Richard Maher, Connor Nicholas, James Stewart, Sam Tennent and Alastair Young

420 (6) -  Nia Jerwood & Lisa Smith, Will Boulden & Nick Gale and Emerson Carlberg & Lachy Gilmour (currently in WAIS Program)

29er (7) - Max Guidice & Hayden Hunt, Dominic Mann,  Liam Seagreen, Alicia Spencer & Jake Dennison and Shannon Wright.
 

A close fleet of Middle Island Hong Kong

Flying Fifteen Worlds in Hong Kong Tailed by Typhoon

Flying Fifteen sailors scrambled back to Australia filled with horror at the winds, rains and coastal storm surges of Typhoon Haiyan which transformed neighborhoods in nearby Philipinnes into little more than debris.

Downgraded to a tropical storm as it entered southern China, Typhoon Haiyan spared the Flying Fifteen World Championships in Hong Kong which ended with medium-heavy breezes and massive swells but relief as the sailors picked up their trophies and packed their boats.

Hosted by Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, the sailing took place from their Middle Island facility based on the south side of Hong Kong island whilst the social events and prize giving was held at the main clubhouse at Kellett Island in Causeway Bay.

Crossing one of the busiest shipping channels in the world to get to the race course positioned out towards the South China Sea was no mean feat, often involving more than an hour’s sail.

The Western Australian sailing contingent finished with two teams on the podium having battled tough competition from the British.  Nick and Janet Jerwood (Ineffable) have taken a well earned second to the World Champions Graham Vials and Chris Turner (Foof) of GBR followed by Grant Alderson and Dean McAullay (El Toro) in third. The top three podium placings remained constant for both the Hong Kong Nationals (Pre-worlds) and the Worlds.  During the second week several sailors  contracted a severe flu like virus.  Grant Alderson was literally knocked to the bottom of his boat where he spent much of the second week, rallying from his ‘sick bed’ only to skipper during the actual races. Crew Dean got the boat out to the course and back finally succumbing to the illness himself by regattas end.

The strong Australian contingent of sixteen boats comprised twelve boats from WA representing  Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club, South of Perth Yacht Club, Esperance Bay Yacht Club and Princess Royal Sailing Club.

Sharing the top ten placings equally with the Brits, Victorians Matt Owen and Andrew Reed (The Wife’s Fault) took fifth place with Glamour Boys Greg Leaversuch and Pete Barblett in 9^th and Chris Paterson and Rupert Leslie on Storyteller sailing themselves into 10^th spot. The Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club ran an excellent regatta doing a fantastic job both on and off the water, which could prove a hard act for the next hosts in Hyeres, France.

Australian Contingent at Flying 15s Worlds in Hong Kong

YWA’s Tony Strickland retires with recognition from Department of Transport’s Troy Easter

Safer Boating Appreciation for Tony’s RST Dedication

Tony Strickland of Yachting WA was recently awarded a Certificate of Appreciation from the Department of Transport for his contribution to the success of the Recreational Skippers Ticket (RST) program and in providing a safer boating community in Western Australia.

Troy Easter from the Department of Transport made the presentation recently upon Tony’s retirement from Yachting WA. Tony joined Yachting WA in January 2005 and has worked tirelessly to accredit numerous RST Assessors in WA for the delivery of the RST.

Developed by the Department of Transport, the agency for marine safety in WA, the RST ensures that people in charge of recreational vessels have the minimum skills and knowledge to protect themselves, their possessions, and to share the waterways safely with others.

With the onset of the warm weather it is a timely reminder of the need for safety on and off the water.

There is no better time than NOW to check and make safe your equipment, familiarise yourself with the waterways, the regulations and emergency preventions and procedures.

For RST assessment and information  visit www.wa.yachting.org.au

Dignitaries welcome new season: Commodore Steve Flower, Vice Patron Troy Buswell MLA, Past Commodore Joan Embry, YWA President Denys Pearce & Fiona Pearce 

Patron Acknowledges Flourishing DBYC Club

Patron  Barry House declared the new sailing season open at the Dunsborough Bay Yacht Club on Sunday 3^rd November 2013.   

Many friends and supporters from other yacht clubs joined the members and distinguished guests assembling on the expansive lawns in the front of the three year old Clubhouse which continues to grow and expand at an amazing rate.  It all goes down to the volunteers – that special band of people who work so hard for the club which enjoys success commensurate to the input.

Special guests included Vice Patron the Hon. Troy Buswell MLA, Yachting WA President Denys Pearce and his wife Fiona along with Busselton City Councillors.

Distinguished guests, Members and friends enjoyed the day at the Clubhouse overlooking the sparkling waters of Geographe Bay at Quindalup  although the sailpast and subsequent race for the Patron's Cup was slightly marred by lack of breeze. 

Tony Carter skippers the Governor of Western Australia, Malcolm McCusker and his wife Tonia in his 40’ Just Cruisin’   Photo: Bernie Kaaks

Governors Cup Surprise

In a surprise inclusion, the Governor of Western Australia, Malcolm McCusker and his wife Tonia boarded Tony Carter’s 40 footer, Just Cruisin’ and took part in the pursuit race.

 Almost 100 yachts took part, starting at Royal Perth Yacht Club and finishing at Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club after a zig zag course down the river in a gusty easterly breeze.

As the back marker, Gary McNally’s Black Betty began the race, some slower boats had already completed half the course, having started 67 minutes earlier! 

Working his way quietly through the small slower boats from a mid fleet start, former Royal Perth Captain Sail Graham White eventually won the race in the little J24 Rhythm n Blues, though he was made to work extremely hard over the final leg by Eclipse, one of a healthy number of traditional couta boats entered.

Barry Rosen’s Argo, which started in the very first group more than an hour ahead of Black Betty, finished a creditable seventh, only being run down in the last leg.

Gusty conditions made for some challenging sailing and also provided some exhilarating spinnaker runs.  One of the sports boats was towed home after breaking a mast, while a Bakewell White 8 kept onlookers entertained with a wild broach near Point Resolution.

And the Governor’s yacht?  Well, it was forced to retire from the event in order to return her guests to shore in time for their next engagement, but both special guests were beaming as they disembarked.

Dominic Papaluca’s Wild Bull Wins Harbour Classic  Photo: Perth Sailing Photography

2013 Harbour Classic with Legends

On a scorching afternoon and sailing in 5 to 8 knot Westerlies, the Harbour Classic was reduced to two laps and became an exercise in light wind sailing with the bigger boats such as Finistiere, Sagaciousand Syrenka under pressure right from the start. The smaller boats like Traffic Jam, Problem Child andWild Bull were the improvers right through the race and it was no surprise to see Dominic Papaluca’sWild Bull in the able hands of crewmember Ryan Binedell take out the race with good speed and excellent performance on the roundings and hoists.

The fastest boat was of course, Gary McNally’s Black Betty. Peter Briggs was seen campaigningHitchhiker, still competitive after so many seasons and Laurie Flynne’s Dynamic was performing crisply despite the heat on the water. Many thanks to Fremantle Sailing Club, the several sponsors on the day and the continuing support of the Fremantle Port Authority.  

 The America’s Cup legends race comprised stalwarts of the America’s Cup crews that reside in Perth and a number of local legends who were prepared to take it up to the AC legends. Of those, the shortest price favourite was former world match racing champion, Peter Gilmour sailing with his sons as crew. Other legends of the day were Damian Fewster, Skip Lissiman, John Longley, Andy Fethers, Ben Durham, Chris Sutherland, Scott McAllister and two Fremantle club members Declan and Mark Keogh.

Sailing two races in Bathers Bay off Fremantle, the first was a Sports Boats 101 for most of the crews as they sorted out their unfamiliar steeds, the second was a case of lambs to the slaughter as the Gilmour crew showed how to pick the shifts coming down on the 8 knot nor easter and romped home. They then repeated the lesson in the harbour in the precursor to the Harbour Classic.

2013 EFYC Sail Training Course Participants Kylie Swallow, Kylie Olney, Trevor Flint, Nick Van Zwol, Pete Coop, Charlotte Coop, Kellie Mirigliotta, Kate Cockman & Leone Woo

A Field of Fillies at East Fremantle Yacht Club Celebrate Sailing

With higher stakes more fillies are entering the sailing stakes!  Some hunger for success whilst others are exhilarated by the pure joy of the experience.

Whatever the individual attraction and aim, more and more Clubs are welcoming women to the sport and East Fremantle Yacht Club is greatly benefitting from the rapidly increasing numbers of ladies attracted to sailing.

The opening of this season saw two prominent ladies at the Club’s helm.  Maureen Dawson, a keel boat sailor is now Vice Commodore and Kylie Swallow, a Sabre sailor, has taken the helm as Centreboard Captain.

Leone Woo, a mid 2013 graduate of the EFYC Adults Sailing Course can’t stop enthusing about her foray into the sailing world.  Her 12 year old daughter, Tabitha introduced the family to sailing when she joined the Pelican fleet and soon enough encouraged her siblings to follow suit.  With four kids now sailing Tabitha went to work on Leone to sign up for the course along with other Mums Kate Coghlan, Charlotte Cop, Kylie Swallow and Kelly Miriagliotta.

Leone said “It’s so much fun.  I wish other Mums would get out onto the water and give it a try – they would just love it.”

On completing the training and with undiminished enthusiasm, Leone bought a 40 year old Sabre Dinghy from Steve Knight and joined the growing EFYC Sabre fleet.

“It’s magic to have your kids sail past you on the water in their Pelis to give you tips and encouragement”.  Being totally smitten with the sailing bug, husband Alex (a kite surfer) surprised Leone with a brand new Sabre (Combat II), for her birthday. Why Combat II – “We knew nothing about sailing – it was a combat zone” hence the family’s first boat, a Pelican, was Combat I and the new Sabre was named Combat II. 

Leone, one of four women sailing the Sabre Dinghies at EFYC, has a few months to hone her skills before competing in the Sabre National Championships being hosted at Perth Dinghy Sailing Club at the end of this year.  For Leone, the emphasis however, is primarily on the enjoyment of sailing within a caring club and nurturing fleet where her skills are developing and she is both combating and conquering.

Steve Walters (EFYC) gets a good start at TCYC    

Sabre Dinghy Fleet Ready for Nationals at PDSC

It seems the Sabre Dinghy is going from strength to strength at East Fremantle Yacht Club; with 30 boats now at the club in only their third season complimenting the existing fleet at Perth Dinghy Sailing Club. The ever-expanding fleet is destined to keep growing with several people interested in getting into the class and looking for that ever-elusive boat to come onto the market.

Other Clubs in WA are interested in starting a fleet, but how to get boats is always the issue with the Sabre? Well, there may be help at hand as a group of WA Sabre sailors have had a set of moulds constructed. The first boat is now out of the mould and should be hitting the water soon. The second boat has also been sold and Dave Kenny is very keen to get his new boat wet.

The Cruising Yacht Club, Rockingham has joined the ever-expanding list of Clubs that sail Sabres, which is without doubt the fastest growing fleet in Australia. TCYC’s fleet already consists of four boats and the fifth is under construction.

The Sabres joined the TCYC fleet on the 6^th  October and had an absolute blast with a fleet of 22 boats. It was good to see the support for another club. Pete Coop is showing improvement and came second to be the first EFYC boat around the course with Scott Olsen (PDSC) leading the pack.

March Long Weekend will see the East Fremantle Yacht Club Sabres once again at the Walpole Yacht Club for the In the Trees Regatta. This is by far the best place to sail in WA and makes for a great weekend.

Leone Woo of EFYC had a great birthday with her gift of a brand new Sabre. Along with the lady skippers, it is good to see some junior members enjoying their sailing with Ryan Miragliotta, Jacob Van Stroe and Pearson Kennington joining the Sabre fleet - this has caused the average Sabre sailors age to drop dramatically. 

The National Titles are being held at Perth Dinghy Sailing Club this year with a fleet in excess of 80 boats (of all age groups) and a large amount of sponsors to guarantee a fantastic regatta. Now is a great time to get a Sabre and start enjoying sailing. 

Although there is a severe lack of boats available Australia wide, they do come up from time to time, so contact the Sabre Association President Brian Jones on 0438 516 324 or sabreswa1@iprimus.com.auor www.sabre.org.au or for further information contact EFYC Sabre Rep Stephen Knight 0427 444 539.

Life’s Too Short …..

If you’ve seen the Vipers flashing by on the Swan River and wondered what they are about or what they are like to sail, now is your chance to get up close and personal.

In January 2014 the ASBA National Titles are heading West to the location of the 1987 America’s Cup and the stretch of water known as Gage Roads. An ideal location for some great Sports Boat racing with all a sailor could ask for – wind, waves and a few breweries.

Four boats were imported to Western Australia in 2009 since which the fleet has doubled with another container due to arrive here in December. A fleet was started in Sydney in late 2012 and boats are now also sailing in Queensland and Victoria.

Since 2009, the Vipers have proven to be competitive in club racing and under the Australian Sportsboat Measurement System (SMS). The upcoming Australian ASBA Nationals in Fremantle, will see a large contingent of Vipers racing. With around 20 boats, Australia wide now, Viper 640 One Design championships have become a reality.

The Viper 640, a strict one-design with no changes permitted to the factory supplied boat, is one of the fastest growing sportsboats with fleets in the US, Canada, Australia and Europe.

At 6.4m long and only 340kg, it combines the stiffness of a keelboat with the acceleration and planing abilities of a dinghy. The open transom bails water instantly, even in extreme conditions. The Viper which can easily be trailed by a small car has a simple, light rig.  With a carbon mast and single spreaders and lowers, it only has three sails … not  five or six as required by some boats.

While generally raced with a crew of three, the Viper has low loads and is regularly sailed in lighter winds by a minimum of two crew. You’re never too young or too old … crew ages vary from 19 to 55 ( and growing).

For anyone interested, the Viper 640 class is holding an Open Day at South of Perth Yacht Club on Sunday 15^th December 2013  9:30am to Noon where demonstration sails are available to interested sailors.  For further information email jonstubbs1@bigpond.com

Yachting WA - Out with the Old and In with the New

The countdown is on and after 32 years as tenants of Nedlands Yacht Club, the offices of Yachting WA will relocate to their new premises in the grounds of Royal Perth Yacht Club.

In 1980 the Executive Committee led by President Dr Andrew Kingsbury, Vice President Jim Granger, Past President David Paris, Executive Officer Peter Hosking and Executive Members Ron Rose, Ted Spight, Harry Hegge, John Bayliss, Norm Bearteaux, Kevin Owens, Huck Scott, Warren Rock and Neil Fogarty determined that the Yachting Association of Western Australia (YAWA) as it was then called, should identify with its members and took up the offer by Nedlands Yacht Club to move to a prefabricated two room building alongside their boat shed.

Lease documents were duly drawn up effective 1^st December 1980 and the quote of $5,692.00 from Builder Barry King was accepted for the renovation.

YAWA’s ‘home’ between 1977 and 1980 was  the Community Recreation Councils Perry Lakes Stadium having operated for the previous 20 years from Secretary Ron Tough’s home.

On Monday 22^nd December 1980  the staff of two comprising Executive Officer Peter Hosking and Secretary, Mrs Pat Morris, packed  their few belonging,  the solid old stalwart typewriter (no such thing as a computer in those day) and faithful Gestetner Machine (many readers will have zero comprehension of what that was), and trundled from their office at Perry Lakes to the salubrious accommodation in the grounds of NYC on the Esplanade, Dalkeith.

At Nedlands as the staff grew to three, so too did the office with another room added to the pre fab building.

Now, all these years and many promises of a new office later, a tenancy has been secured with Royal Perth Yacht Club who have, with the assistance of YWA Life Member John Flower, designed modern office accommodation suited to two individual tenancies with shared meeting room facilities.

On Monday 19 August 2013 the contractors took site possession and three days later the first pour eventuated.  Utility infrastructure catered to, the slab was laid on 10th September and the casting of the pre-cast wall panels were commenced.  These tilt wall panels cast on-site should, all being well, be erected next week. Enter cranes and voila!  Within little more than a couple of hours the 780 sq. metre building will instantly be roof height.

Once the roof has been added, publicly visible progress from this point will be slowed and only RPYC General Manager Stuart Walton will be privy to the detail – all to be ceremoniously revealed in early 2014.

By the start of Winter 2014 YWA should be well settled into their new ‘home’,  however it is currently premature  for Auld Lang Syne and a fond farewell of our trusty home at Nedlands.  Watch this space… 

Will Ryan and London gold medallist Mathew Belcher. Photo: Craig Heydon

World Champions to World's Best - Fame and Fortune for Mat Belcher

Tuesday evening as part of the ISAF Conference in Oman, saw Mat Belcher announced "ISAF ROLEX World Sailor of the Year".

Having been nominated for this highest honour and having to leave empty-handed on two previous occasions, this make Mat only the second Australian ever to win the award - due recognition for his 17-straight-regatta winning streak.

It didn’t stop there; World Champions Will Ryan and Mathew Belcher were awarded the 2013 Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Team of The Year award at a gala dinner at the AIS in Canberra.

Mathew Belcher and Will Ryan achieved their biggest victory in this new combination in August this year, claiming the 470 World Championship in France.  On the one-year anniversary of Belcher’s gold medal win with Malcom Page at the London 2012 Olympic Games the 30-year old added the fourth World Championship title to his name while it was the first for new crew Will Ryan.

Belcher and Ryan were chosen from a strong list of finalists that included National Women's Water Polo Team, the National Bowls Team, the Men's K4 1000m (Kayaking), the Olympic Winter Institute Aerial Skiing Team as well as the Under 23 Cycling World Tour Academy.

There is no rest for the duo who after a short break to attend these ceremonies are resuming on-water training early next week in Sydney and looking forward to competing at Sail Melbourne in a few weeks time. 

Genevieve in the Martin 16 Soul Sailor Mobility Cup Halifax Canada

Mobility Cup Challenge for Gevevieve

A new experience for Genevieve Wickham who recently competed in the Mobility Cup in Halifax, Canada in a Martin 16.  She had never seen this type of dinghy prior to the event and found herself competing in it about one hour after boat allocation.  Her physical limitations made it impossible to handle the dinghy without assistance of a Windlass System of electrics for the tiller and someone to manage the mainsail under her direction. Next challenge was how to give directions as her impairment has left her without the language skills to achieve this. Genevieve sailed all seven races with a best placing of 8^th and a 15th overall in the 22 Martins competing.   

Despite a number of challenges at the Mobility Cup it was a rewarding and enriching experience and they received a warm welcome at the RNSYC.

They departed Halifax on 31 August arriving in San Francisco for a day’s rest and then onto the water again to compete in the Hansa Class North American Championship being hosted by The Bay Area Association of Disabled Sailors BAADS at the South Beach Yacht Club, Pier 40,  San Francisco.   Again they received a warm welcome and good volunteer support to set up the Liberty for racing.   A fleet of 14 Liberty’s competed including four servos . Competition was good with sailors from the US, Canada, Netherlands, France,  New Zealand and Australia all experiencing the many challenges including the varying  tides and slightly different ways of conducting a regatta .

2013 CSR Regatta Open to All Sailors  Photo: Perth Sailing Photography

Fifty Sixth Cockburn Sound Regatta Cranks Up

This season sees the Fifty Sixth Cockburn Sound Regatta taking place from the 26^th to 30^th December  2013.  Planning is well under way with Chairperson Alan Campbell putting together a team to ensure that, ‘Serious Sailors having Serious Fun’ remains our key catchcry.  This year the plan is to have two race courses particularly with the idea of catering for ‘Off the Beach’ dinghies.  A step in the right direction for us, and of course aimed at increasing the fleet for 2013. There are still opportunities for associations to work with Alan with a view to having their state titles managed during the regatta.

Trevor Milton will once again be Race Officer and along with his very capable team, ensure that on-water management is of the highest order. The club is increasing the number of moorings this year and for those keen enough there will be opportunities to enjoy the New Year celebrations at the Club and Palm Beach.

The CSR website is running with current information flowing and has provision for the linking of crews, skippers and boats.  CSR Facebook also has regular updates.

Major sponsors have been signed providing generous support (check the website for all details).  All entries received and paid by 30^th of November 2013 go into the draw to win a Dhuwest RIB .

Onshore activities will compliment the atmosphere of the regatta along with themed evening meals and entertainment including a pig on a spit which should satisfy the most ravenous yachties.

NOMINATIONS ARE OPEN. The Notice of Race and all information is on the website  www.cockburnsoundregatta.com.au and Facebook page. 

Perth Voice for the Sports Community

“Let’s Go Sailing” Radio Show

The popularity of the “Let’s Go Sailing” half hour radio magazine show put together by Dr Ed Fethers and Manfred Speicher has convinced the operators of Sport FM on 91.3 to shift the timeslot from 4pm to 6pm instead.  The half hour show will still bring interviews with interesting sailing people and keep sailors in all disciplines interested.

Below the Mantle of Table Mountain the Clippers leave Cape Town bound for Albany WA

Baptism of fire for the Clipper Race Crews due in Albany Soon

The spectacular start of Clipper Race 4 of Leg 3 in front of Table Mountain, Cape Town, to Albany, Western Australia led to a baptism of fire for the Clipper Race Crews.

The competitive 4,700 mile Southern Ocean sleigh ride to Albany, Western Australia with twelve yachts competing in the third leg of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, headed out of Table Bay bound for an eta of 27th November 2013.

The first Sunday back at sea was no day of rest for the Clipper Race fleet, though it has certainly been more enjoyable than the preceding week’s unpredictability and harsh, contrasting wind conditions. A few wind holes slowed progress drastically for many of the fleet akin to the Race 2’s Doldrums. Day 7 bought far more consistently strong winds of between 30 to 40 knots, allowing most of the fleet to pick up some excellent cruising and surfing speeds.

Day 13 and Mother Nature invited select Clipper Race teams to a star studded weather show. Those who were invited had no choice in their attendance, though according to skipper reviews it was a fun night of exciting, incredible, awe inspiring and definitely unforgettable proportion.

Gale to violent storm force winds were the star of the night, building quickly and steadily in pace from 50 to 80 knots, then a dramatic finale roared to a deafening crescendo with multiple skippers reporting gusts with wind speeds of 100 to 130 knots. Thankfully no injuries or damage were reported during the proceedings.  With around a week’s racing left in Race 4, it is unclear whether this show was a one night only spectacular or an opening night preview but skippers are all well aware now of the potentials that still lie ahead in the remaining miles to Albany.

A potentially nail-biting battle is now on to reach the first bonus point opportunity, the Scoring Gate, located a little over 500 miles away from the leaders. It stands between 40 degrees south, 55 degrees east and 45 degrees south and 55 degrees east and is not compulsory but the first three yachts through the gate will be awarded 3, 2 and 1 points respectively, which can make a significant difference in the overall race standings.

 The stronger winds should see the fleet arrive on schedule in Albany, their host city in Western Australia. The fleet now due sometime between 24th and 28th November will be berthed at the Albany Waterfront Marina with a scheduled departure on 3rd December 2013 of Race 5 on Leg 4 to Sydney.  Visitors and locals are encouraged to make the crews welcome and to join the planned festivities. The Clipper Festival on 30 November at the Boat Shed, Albany Marina will see a fabulous festival for the whole family with loads of fun activities for all.

The Clipper Race will return to the UK in July 2014 after a total of 670 crew race 40,000 miles and visit 15 ports on six continents in 16 races of 8 Legs.

WA Sailors – the Clipper Round the World is holding an information presentation for the 2015-2016 Round the World Yacht Race at Fremantle Sailing Club on Thursday 21 November 2013commencing at 6:30pm for anyone interested in taking part.

For more information visit www.clipperroundtheworld.com

Newcomer Fifty Four is a welcome addition to the double handed racing division, winning line honours. Photo: Bernie Kaaks

A Light Weather Coventry

The Bureau’s forecast promised hot weather and light winds, and the weather gods delivered both for Fremantle Sailing Club’s Rockwater Coventry Reef Race last Saturday, though breezes were not as light as some competitors feared.

Fleets started in a mild easterly to a turning mark off Port Beach before heading out to sea, around the windmills and south to Coventry Reef.

Gary McNally’s Black Betty surged straight to the lead and was never headed, taking line honours in division 1 over Tony Mitchell’s Sled by a margin of 13 minutes.  So strong was Black Betty’s performance that she was also rewarded with wins on both IRC and YAH handicap systems.  Anthony Kirke’s Enterprise was second with Sled rounding off the podium, also in both handicap divisions.

Peter Hickson’s new and colourful Ker 39, ME II, was first over the line in Division 2, but it was Craig Carter’s Hoodoo Man which won the IRC trophy, followed by ME II and This Way Up. Under YAH handicap, Alan Stein’s Foundation 36 The X Factor finished first, ahead of Hoodoo Man and Lyn Powell’s Fourth Dimension.

Division 3 line honours were fought out between two Beneteau’s, with Neil Harrison’s Deckchairs Overboard finally proving too strong for Dennis Vincent’s Wyuna. Deckchairs also won the YAH Division, followed by Raya.  Under IRC handicap, the irrepressible S&S34 Blondie, sailed by Simon Torvaldsen, was first ahead of Wyuna and Stimulus Package.

The hardy crews in the double handed division welcomed a newcomer in the Beneteau name Fifty Four, sailed by Matt Dickmann and Geoff Bishop. Fifty Four took line honours by a 12 minute margin, but on handicap, it was Kraken, the Jeanneau Sunfast sailed by Todd Giraudo and the popular David “Dubbo” White, which earned first place on both handicap systems.

Many of the yachts competing were committed to the next day’s Club Marine Fremantle Harbour Classic, so celebrations on Saturday evening were a subdued affair by offshore standards. 

Kiteracing Oceanics hits Perth Shores Next Month

With six top ten international kiteracers in Perth next month, the inaugural Kiteracing Oceanic Championships will make a huge splash.

The Kiteracing Oceanic Championships will take over Leighton Beach in Western Australia from 10 to 15 December 2013 with six days of kiteracing action and entertainment.

On the water there will be course racing and big air jumps that are sure to wow the crowds. As part of the action there will be a Freestyle competition during the week, with the finals taking place on Saturday 14 December. Also on the Saturday catch the spectacular Lighthouse to Leighton, where competitors will race the 19km of Indian Ocean between Rottnest Island and Leighton Beach for the fourth successive year.
 
The Kiteracing Oceanic Championships consists of a series of qualifying races around a marked course. Results from this event will go towards a 12-month rolling world ranking calendar in the IKA World Course Racing Championship. The finals of the course racing and the trophy presentation will be held on Sunday 15^th December.
 
International competitors include four top ten ranked male kite course racers, Florian Gruber (Germany), Blazej Ozog (Poland), Alejandro Climent Hernandez (Spain) and Salir Alexander Cakir (Turkey), world number 1 female course kite racer Steph Bridge (UK), and world number 4 ranked female Aga Grymska (Poland).
 
Back on shore there will be supporting activities including the Oceanics Bar, Sunset Food Market, Open Air Cinema (screening surf documentary One Touch, starring Joel Parkinson and Wes Berg), free family entertainment, roving performers, beach sports, tasty pop-up food outlets and more. Live music including The Brow Horn Ochestra, Sam Perry, DJ NDORSE and DJ Charlie Bucket will make make it the beach party of the year on Saturday 14 December .
 
In the lead up to the Championships there will be a Kiteracing Junior Training camp presented by the Warren Jones Foundation from 27 November to 1 December.
 
The event is run under the auspices of both the International Kiteboarding Association (IKA) and the International Sailing Federation (ISAF). The State Government through Tourism WA is a proud supporter of the Championships.
 
For more information visit http://kiteoceanics.com or the event Facebook page. #KiteOceanicsWA

50^th Anniversary of Cock of Swan Regatta

The Cock of the Swan Regatta is due to fire up on the 1^st of December 2013 marking its 50^th Anniversary and Perth Dinghy Sailing Club is looking to have as many centreboard classes as possible down on the start line. Many old scores will be settled within the classes and bragging rights will be up for grabs. 

Instigated by Mr Geoffrey Cohen in 1953, as a result of animated bar discussion as to who was the fastest yacht on the Swan River, two identical perpetual trophies, now antiques, were moulded.

The trophies comprise roosters mounted on layered bases with the names of the winning yachts engraved on plaques.  Mr Cohen established a trust fund for the perpetual trophy, the responsibility which was later assumed by the Yachting Association of WA .  Geoffrey Cohen died on 11th November 1988, at the age of 80 years, maintaining his interest in the event all the while, presenting the trophies to the winners for the last time in 1987. 

The trophies are a history of some of the most illustrious WA sailors, a list of which can be found in the current YWA Year Book.

For further information or to sign up for this year’s event contact PDSC Rear Commodore Andrew Wilson on 0433 520 883 or visit http://www.wa.yachting.org.au/  

Annual Yachting WA Year Books Now Available

The annual YWA Year Book is now available at your local Club with more available from the Yachting WA Office. 

The Year Book is available to all at no cost and is a valuable resource tool for sailors and recreational boaters.   Have one at hand! 

An electronic copy is available for download from the YWA Website www.wa.yachting.org.au

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