Results

A Report of the 2011 VPTCA State Titles

Congratulations to Luke Stout (Speed Demon) on winning the Victorian Champion title for 2011. This is Luke’s first open win, but he has been pressing hard for several seasons at Victorian and national level and it was well earned. Second went to Jason Dunsmore (Unknown Zone) and third to Mike Wold (Boy at Heart). The five race series was held over three days in March, at Somers Yacht Club on Western Port Bay. There were twenty six entrants, including a number of members from the host club. Entrants ages ranged from Junior (Adam Gristwood, Pressure Point) to Grand Master (Steph Schwarz, 76 years, Elusive). In fact there were four skippers aged over seventy – is this a record for off-the-beach single handed cat racing?

New Victorian Champion Luke Stout (President VPTCA) with winner of the women’s title Carly Stone.

Somers is an interesting place to sail with a direct fetch south to the ocean waters of Bass Straight, and strong channelled tides, particularly with Easter approaching. Although there can be an ocean swell at Somers, the winds were generally light and seas flat. It was very important to know what the tide was doing and to select the best side of the course for the prevailing condition. For instance, in race 6, tacking into an easterly and an ebb tide flowing parallel the shore, you needed to stay close to shore to be in the slower-flowing shallow water, and to overlay the apparent lay line out to sea by more than 100m. But on the last beat the tide had turned, and one gained by going out from the leeward mark to faster flowing deeper water and being carried toward the finish line. At mark roundings it was necessary at times to way overlay the marks and some lake sailors in particular learnt this lesson the hard way.

It wasn’t all light however. A surprisingly strong wind arrived at the start of race 4, quickly rising to the 24-29 knot range, as measured on the clubs off-shore meteorological station. The wind was across the tide and this led to a very nasty sea on the downwind legs. Grannies at the gybe mark were definitely on the menu, and both first and second place getters capsized during the race. The race was shortened after two laps and only nine boats finished. Well done to the finishers, including the winner of the women’s title, Carly Stone (My Way). Club commodore Malcolm Kemp (Wonderful World), sailing in the Grand Master category retired, but scored himself two shining red/black eyes from contact with the boom. Nevertheless, he was still smiling at the end of the day.

Somers Yacht Club ran the series very well and was most hospitable, including an outstanding spit roast dinner and excellent bar service. Thank you to all the volunteers who worked hard for us. The club has an expanding PT fleet and races on Saturday afternoons. A visit is highly recommended.

2011 RACE RESULTS:

Competitors Diary - by Alan White (Virtual Reality):

We arrived Friday, and what a great afternoon, warm and sunny, light wind, no rush and no crowds. Set up the boat and had dinner at Somers Yacht Club as a guest. Very enjoyable, and best of all, no drive home watching out for the booze bus.

Saturday 11.00. Light winds, probably around 5 to 7 knots with a small tide running. I elected to start around the middle of the line and head for the shore. Well with the shifty winds, holes and tides I found myself around 7th at the leeward buoy, however, it was here the wind dropped completely and the rest of the fleet bunched up and I was on the outside of the cartwheel. Again,
through skill etc I climbed back to the top ten only to repeat the same as the first lap and find myself relegated to the last few. I hate these shifty winds. We headed back for a well earned lunch prepared by Somers.

Saturday 14.30. Light winds from all directions. We headed out to the start area and sat around for about 1.5 hours watching the wind go through 180 degrees then swing back. Thankfully it was called off and we headed back to shore.

Saturday night. Somers put a spit roast on which was delicious, washed down with a few reds who wanted to sail Sunday.

Sunday 10.00 This was almost a repeat of the first race except for the course configuration, we had our axehead instead of the triangle. Again the wind dropped out almost completely at the leeward mark which allowed the fleet to bunch up. Another “race” I would rather forget about. As we came in the wind moved to the south and started to build.

Sunday 14.30 The wind was now from the SW and made getting off the beach very difficult. By this stage the wind had increased to around 20 gusting 25 knots. I headed out following Peter Anderson however my rudder hit a rock just as I thought I was clear and broke the pull down rope in half. I had no option but to drift in backwards. As I hit the shore rocks appeared in the sand and made a mess of my shiny bottoms. I raced around and found a new rope and managed to repair the pull down in the expectation of sailing the second race.

However, while I was working away at the back of the club the wind had increased to 25 to 30 knots. There was no way I was going out in that. In fact only 9 boats finished and I ended up helping a whole lot of broken boats onto the shore. The club had shortened that race to 2 laps which probably helped a number of that 9 to finish.The planned resail was cancelled.

Monday 10.00 Winds around 10 to 13 knots from the SW. I started at the starboard end and was third around the first bouy then the top guns got their acts together and although I got mowed down had some great battles, mainly with Bob Ramsey who was faster on the reaches but lost ground on the beats. He ended up just beating me over the line of a shortened course.
Monday Following the first race. Winds still about the same.

Again I had a good start and was among the leaders at the first mark with Bob hard on my stern. He went past on the reach again and we had our usual battle. However. On the last lap the three other boats in our group took the port buoy at the gate while Bob and myself took the starboard buoy. Keith Deed, Russ Mathews and Luke Stout ( who had already won the series) ended up 200 metres ahead. Meanwhile Bob and I battled
up the last leg until Bob decided to tack onto Starboard while I continued on Port. I managed to lay the line in one tack while Bob had 4 other boats pass him. Bad luck Bob (???).

This was a great series well managed by Somers. Some great racing in a mix of conditions. Well done. Luke Stout who was usually so far in front I couldn’t tell who had won.

Somers prepared some good dinners and lunches. Malcolm Kemp, Commodore and keen PT sailor managed to get a matching Black eye (boom quicker than the body) but still retained his sense of humour. The on course activities were excellent but you had to be careful of those rocks on the way
out and back. Garry Craig, Mike Wold and a few others managed to sustain some damage.

All in good weekend and well done Somers.

National Titles:

View the Paper Tiger Catamaran Association National Title results here.