Hi Dave,

Yeah finally got around to updating details, tried the Avatar as well, but after hours of cropping and resizing to less than 80 x 80 as required Still can't get it to change

For those that weren't at the Nats, The Academy will come up shortly in my Nats write up.

Hi all,

Second installment of my very bias (only from my perspective) Nats report below.

Monday dawned cooler and raining, but soon dried up to be cool grey and overcast with a fresh breeze from somewhere in the south. You could feel the excitement on the shore as final adjustments where made before heading out for the invitation race at a reasonable 11am. The wind was blowing up the lake so it meant there was some choppy waves in the middle of the course for the only time in the Nats and meant hobby horsing was possible on port tack if you hit a soft patch. The start of the invitation race was the usual slack affair, with some boats not trying too hard, but then the gun went and we where away, upwind was mostly trapezing, but with some soft spots requiring sitting on the side, the beats where difficult to pick the right way, with the wind shifting a bit and fluctuations in pressure. But the down winds with spinnaker where awesome as always in marginal wind, as that is when the spinnaker makes the most difference, before we new it the 3 laps of the invitation race where over and it was time to go in for lunch. After lunch Heat1 & 2 where held in similar conditions but with the wind building and swinging around to come off the land a little.

All went well with the course, the 3 fleets starting 5 minutes apart, with Cat and Sloop sailing traditional Triangle Windward and Return course and Spinnaker fleet sailing all Windward and Returns seemed able to co-exist around the same buoys ok. The Gate at the bottom end of the course was interesting for those not used to it, but offered options when the fleets came together to the bottom marks, allowing individual boats to avoid what could have been difficult situations at times and I think proved to be a good idea. That night after fluids had been replaced as is required after a hard days sailing by elite atheletes, it was noted that when some of the sailors arrived that they had labelled their boats Rye YC Racing Team and camper Lake Boga YC Racing Teams, but with “Still Bitten” and “Bee Alert” winning both heats in the Spinnaker and Cat rig divisions, it was suggested (with tongue firmly planted in cheek) to the boys from Rye and the Grumpy Old Men from Boga that the Gippsland Lakes Academy might be the place to learn to sail.

Hi all,

Third installment of my very bias (only from my perspective) Nats report below.

Tuesday, it was back to sunshine and hot and humid conditions. With a very “gentlemanly” 12.30 pm start time for the days racing, giving plenty of time for fixing up what needed it from the first days sailing and also plenty of time for the wind to get blowing and settle in direction. It was from the East, which meant it was blowing off the headlands on the southern end of Warners Bay, making for very flat water, but even shiftier wind than the first day with again mostly trapezing conditions, with some big holes near the headland. 3 races where held in rapid succession, less than 45 minutes per race for the Spinnaker fleet, with the wind not shifting consistently enough to require buoys to be moved or anything serious like that.
The leading boats from each division usually finished at similar times, as did the back markers and I for one appreciated the time to recover between races as the spinnaker keeps you very busy when racing, but it was probably tougher for the back markers with only a short break between races. The Jellyfish particularly near the western shore caused some problems for a few sailors during the week, knocking up rudders and in a couple of cases when rudders didn't “pop” some lock down damage, but apart from that all seemed to go well. Many positive comments where heard about the “Hollywood Finish” (short beam reach from the bottom gate to a finish line off the stern of the start-finish boat), after all who doesn't enjoy a screaming reach, though it did require the cat rigged spinnaker boats to drop spinnaker most of the time making for a busy finish, but the sloops loved it. Things where going very smoothly timing wise, with the sailors off the water after 3 races having time to walk up the road for dinner at “Pipis” before heading back to the club for the AGM. Where much discussion was had but no real changes where made, so all should be much the same for the next year, another attribute of the Mosquito class, stability in the organisation.

Then the sailors retired to their various camps, for more fluid replacement (as required by all elite athletes), this was a late night for most with a lay-day next day taking the pressure off, continuing the laid back feeling of the Mossie Nats and giving plenty of time for socialising.

Hi all,

Fourth installment of my very bias (only from my perspective) Nats report below.

Thursday, was yet another hot and humid day with a late start, so more time to relax before the 12.30pm start, with 3 back to back races planned. The wind was somewhere in the east again, blowing out of Warners Bay, so more flat water and gusty conditions. First race offered the strongest breeze whilst racing so far, the heavier crews where starting to grin and the Sloops where a ball of spray. Spinnaker handling was starting to become tricky and you couldn't wipe the green grin off the skipper of “Kryptonite” as he rolled over the top of “Still Bitten” near the top mark. Surprisingly in the second race the wind moderated a little, as it started to shift more northerly.
By the start of the third race, the wind had shifted quite a bit and got stronger again, it was full on racing, flat out and fast, with the wind shifting so far that the spinnaker boats where going straight from the top mark to the bottom with no gybes! Again “Kryptonite” was battling with “Still Bitten” for the lead and as they approached the leeward gate for the last time there was nothing in it, a gybe on to Port for the finish line put “Still Bitten” under pressure and a attempt to complete the required right angle change of direction with the spinnaker still up, resulted in a capsize and knocked more than the wind out of my sails (as I dived across to the other side of the boat trying to save it from capsizing and the gunnel came up to meet me and caught me in the ribs, then when the mast hit the water, I was thrown on to the boom landing on my lower back ). After recovering from being winded and righting the boat I looked around expecting to see the rest of the fleet gone past, but few boats where there, it was then I looked at the Finish Boat and saw the abandonment flag, it was a no race after all.

Back on shore there was much discussion about the last race being abandoned, but ultimately it was the RO's call, initially due to the wind shift causing the racing to be unfair (like straight from top to bottom mark for the spinnaker boats) and then the wind getting too strong. As you would expect these discussions carried on into another evening of fluid replacement, along with a lot of talk about “Fat being Fast” . But I would like to think it was the cream rising to the top .

Hi all,

Fifth and final installment of my very bias (only from my perspective) Nats report below.

Friday the final day, surprise, surprise it was hot and humid, but showing the weather did change during the Titles, there was very little wind. An 11am start was planned so sore bodies got moving early, only too hang around at the club as the postponement flag went up. After lunch the sea breeze started and it was time too head out, I for one was feeling much the worst for wear, but the racing must go on. Yet again wind was North East out of Warners Bay, making it gusty and the water flat. As soon as the racing started I knew I was in trouble, I just couldn't throw myself around the boat as usual, with sore ribs and lower back restricting my movement. It was mostly trapezing conditions, with a few “sit on the side patches” if you found yourself in the wrong spot, I couldn't lay flat on trapeze and moving across the boat whilst tacking or gybing was very uncomfortable, but was managing to hang in around 5th place, then in the last lap a few shifts went my way and I managed to get across the finish line in 3rd place. Thankfully the flag to signal that another race was to be started was up, this meant a minimum of 9 races would be held, which meant 2 drops, as much as my head said “yes” I wanted to compete and continue racing with the other guys, my body was saying “no”, on rough calculations I was confident I could head in and drop the final up to two races that I did not compete in, so I told the start boat I was retiring and headed in.
Back on shore at least I didn't have to rush to pack up, but soon another boat was in, one of the Cat rig leaders “Atreus” was taping up a damaged bow from a collision in race 9, from which he retired, this would have a influence on the final results in that division, but he went back out as the full complement of 10 races was to start. Despite moving slowly (nursing my injuries), I was just about packed up when the fleet came in and started the big pack up, that signals the end of another great National Titles, sad to think that we will have to wait another 12 months to have this much fun again. As had been the case all week packing up was a very social time and the winners where grinner’s, soon it was time to put “Still Bitten” on the trailer and “Bee Alert” was ready to go on top, “it was all over except the shouting”.

The Presentation at the near by Macquarie Club, was a fitting finale to a great week, another chance for fluid replacement, plenty of food and prizes galore, calls of “Fat is Fast” heaps of laughs and stirring. The goodbyes dragged on for ages and everybody said they would be at the Nats again next year, doesn't matter where you placed, the Nats are so much more than just another chance to win trophies. They are an annual gathering of the “Swarm” to celebrate all that is great about sailing “The Racing Cat” a catamaran that has has stood the test of time, because the Mosquito class rules have allowed gradual development, keeping the Mosquito lively and exhilarating to sail for the experienced, but not too difficult for those learning and so versatile with it's Cat rig (one up), Sloop rig (two up) and for the past 10 years spinnaker rigged options.

Saturday, dawned you guessed it hot and humid, after a early breakfast at the cabin it was time to hitch the trailer, wave goodbye to the “Grumpy Old Men” plus one “Fat Grinner” and head south. Again the miles flew by and apart from my back and ribs it was a painless journey, arriving back in Paynesville in time to load “Bee Alert” back on it's trailer and enjoy a roast Lamb dinner (one advantage of the wife staying home), then “Bee Alert” headed of to make the final leg of the trip, the 1 hour 45 minute drive around the lake to Loch Sport (about an hour by water). It was back to work Monday and a trip to a Sports Physio was required to check out what had become a very painful back, he reported a damaged disc in the lower back and along with what where still sore ribs, he prescribed rest with some basic exercises. Which is why I have had time to do this write up, the back is feeling much better but the ribs are still trouble, but hopefully I will be able to sail again soon, just loving the new boat, I am definitely “Still Bitten”.

Hi Gary .
Nice report on the Nationals ,Thanks for that. The 2015 sailing year should be a better one for you now that the new boat is mostly sorted ,
Dave 1724.

The photos taken by Paul at the Nationals are in the photo album now. There are a lot of great photos. Thanks Paul.

2015 National Titles - Speers Point - Photos

I've just added the nationals results for 2000 through 2005 to the website. Looking for older results now.

1999-2000

Here is a pic from the other end.



http://postimg.org/image/c7898l8kx/

Here are some early morning photos at Speers Point .
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That's a blast from the past (note similar sized Cat & Sloop fleets), but the start of a new "Era" in more ways than one, the 00's and some new names to Mossies on "Old Boats". Cat Rigged, Mick Floyd 7th on 960, Neil Joiner 12th on 799. Sloop Rigged yours truly 6th on 1111. Then there was the newbies on boats that us old boat sailors aspired to (they where not new then), Cat Rigged, Tim Shepperd 5th on 1659 (flash fibreglass foam sandwich hulls) and Peter Nikitin 6th on 1741 (lightweight ply boat with funny rocker line).

From the photobucket:

Interesting similarity in styles....

ill save you bro!!!
haha