William_H
Well-Known Member
We are well into the season here at 32 S East Fremantle Yacht Club. Last night we had the first of our Twilight races.
Not to be confused with the regular Wed evening Twilight cruises. The history is that we have had a night race series for many years. However Aust Yachting requirements for safety category for night races even on our sheltered Swan River meant we had to require boats to meet Cat 5. https://www.efyc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/AS-Cat-5-2017-2021-form-ev1.0.pdf Some of the difficult bits being hatches front and main being lockable/unlockable from both inside and out side plus proven self righting ability. (proven in small boats by a pull down test. Anyway I got my little boat passed for several seasons but there just were not enough other boats willing to comply and race.
So we came up with a format to start at 1800 and finish by 1940. This latter a close approximation to dark around summer solstice. We don't have Summer time clock shift and we don't get the long late twilights of UK.
The calender then is for races about every 2 weeks from now till early Feb. Normally winds are very predictable SW about 12 to 15 knots diminishing through the race. Last night defied this with SE winds light at the start getting stronger through the race. So started with no 1 genoa only to be battling with over power near the windward mark. No no one believes in furling jibs here. Turned around a got large spin up. (Will was a bit scared but all good). We had a nemesis in a friend who had just returned his boat to water after serious bottom scraping and paint in his Spacesailer 22 fin keel. He did have us on boat speed but we managed to keep up with better pointing and use of spinnaker. He did go around the mark the wrong way and had to re round so we got in front and stayed in front but he got us on handicap. All good fun and home for a late dinner. 1.5 hrs duration. Just to let you know we are still having fun in the little boat. ol'will
Not to be confused with the regular Wed evening Twilight cruises. The history is that we have had a night race series for many years. However Aust Yachting requirements for safety category for night races even on our sheltered Swan River meant we had to require boats to meet Cat 5. https://www.efyc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/AS-Cat-5-2017-2021-form-ev1.0.pdf Some of the difficult bits being hatches front and main being lockable/unlockable from both inside and out side plus proven self righting ability. (proven in small boats by a pull down test. Anyway I got my little boat passed for several seasons but there just were not enough other boats willing to comply and race.
So we came up with a format to start at 1800 and finish by 1940. This latter a close approximation to dark around summer solstice. We don't have Summer time clock shift and we don't get the long late twilights of UK.
The calender then is for races about every 2 weeks from now till early Feb. Normally winds are very predictable SW about 12 to 15 knots diminishing through the race. Last night defied this with SE winds light at the start getting stronger through the race. So started with no 1 genoa only to be battling with over power near the windward mark. No no one believes in furling jibs here. Turned around a got large spin up. (Will was a bit scared but all good). We had a nemesis in a friend who had just returned his boat to water after serious bottom scraping and paint in his Spacesailer 22 fin keel. He did have us on boat speed but we managed to keep up with better pointing and use of spinnaker. He did go around the mark the wrong way and had to re round so we got in front and stayed in front but he got us on handicap. All good fun and home for a late dinner. 1.5 hrs duration. Just to let you know we are still having fun in the little boat. ol'will
:encouragement:
