Sabre Sailing Association of South Australia

The progressive results for the first two heats of the State Championships are now available. they are available to download here 2008-09 State Champ Progressive Results

Newsletter

The September 2008 newsletter has been added to the Newsletter sub-page and can be viewed or downloaded from that page.

2008/09 program

The Sabre Committee has now finished negotiations with the various clubs and the program for the coming season has been finalised. The State Championships have taken on a slightly different format to previous years and all members are urged to participate. Following a request from the Sabre group at Victor Harbor last year a fleet race (social day) has been programmed for Victor Harbor Yacht Club early next year and it is also hoped that members support this event and the Sabre sailors at Victor Harbor. The format of the day has not been decided but could involve two or more short races.

The program can be downloaded from the "Calendar" sub page.

Membership 2008/09

Members are reminded that membership is now due for renewal for the 2008/09 season. A renewal of membership for can be downloaded here Application for Membership

New Committee for 2008/09

The Annual General Meeting was held on Sunday 25th May 2008 and was attended by 40 people made up of 24 members, partners and friends. The new committee along with contact details is available on the Contact info page.

A motion was passed at the meeting to award Life Membership to John Gratton for his work within the Association over the past 25 years. During this time John has held numerous postions including Handicapper, Secretary, Yachting SA delegate and the Sabre representative on the Brighton & Seacliff Yacht Club Sailing Committee. He was also involved with organising the National Championships held at Largs Bay Sailing Club in 1987/88. He has also been actively involved in coaching clinics for the Association and mentoring roles at BSYC and attended 14 National Championships culminating in becoming the National Champion in 2007/08. John joins Les Brown and Roger Deacon as Life Members of the South Australian Association.

Following the meeting the President Greg Warner presented the trophies of the State Championships.

John Gratton 1st Sean Hackett 2nd Francis Watson 3rd

Chris Juttner 1st Handicap Div Kylie Baker 1st Ladies Div Leslie Roberts 2nd Ladies Div

Dean Francis 1st Veteran Division Winning Team Kylie Baker, Laura Averay and Leslie Roberts

Absent Bec Gratton and Sally Downes

Winter Series

The Victor Harbor Sabre fleet has grown recently with several boats purchased at the end of the season. If you would like to join some of them in winter sailing then venture down to the Goolwa Regatta YC who will be holding their winter series on the last Sunday of each month. It is understood that some of the Victor Harbor skippers will be sailing in this series.

Below is the Victor Harbor fleet ready to race at Victor Harbor.

State Championships 2007-08 Results

The last three heats of the 07-08 State Championships were held at Largs Bay Sailing Club on 9th and 10th February and once again close sailing was encountered on both days. Sean Hackett pushed John Gratton all the way with the final results again being decided on the last heat. In the Team Event the Pink Team (Ladies) showed the males a clean set of heels to win easily. Congratulations Ladies.

Congratulations also to the winners John Gratton (Open), Kylie Baker (Ladies) and Chris Juttner (Handicap).

For full results see the State Championship sub page.

Sponsors and Results of the 30th National Championships

The South Australian Sabre Sailing Association would like to thank the following sponsors for their support.

For results of the 30th National Championships click on Sabre National Championships

For photos of regatta see Photo Gallery

Information on the "I have had a S#*t of a day" award follows the list of sponsors further down the page.

Invitation Race Sponsored by

Alcohol Go Easy Slip Slop Slap-SAIL

Alcohol + Water don't mix Be Sun Smart Save your Skin

Heat 1 sponsored by Heat 2 sponsored by

Heat 3 sponsored by

Ken O'Brien Sails and Aqua Sport & Waterline Marine Products

Heat 4 sponsored by Heat 5 sponsored by YachtCraft

Licenced Sabre Builder

Heat 6 sponsored byHeat 7 sponsored by

After Race Party sponsored by

The "I have had a S#*t of a day" award has been presented to the following lucky participants for their outstanding feats.

Invitation Race :- Kylie Baker for managing to capsize in under 5 knots of breeze.

Heat 1:- Andrew Little who mistook the shortened course signal and official boat as the finishing line and thought he had finished. After realizing his mistake he then had three attempts to cross the finish line against the tide. In all dropping fom 3rd to 7th place.

Heat 2:- This was closely contested by Chris Juttner who fell out of his boat, Daniel Keil who was on the wrong side of the Parthfinder at the start and tried to dip start. (not in the rules!!) and Graham Small for infringing the Club Commodore in a Port /Starboard incident at the weather mark not once but twice. After much deliberation Andrew Little chose Graham Small as the recipient of this most sought after title.

Heat 3 & 4:- Heats 3 and 4 held back to back in strong winds provided a number of possible recipients with abandoned and anchored boats, broken side stays, capsizes & broken booms. The eventual winner of the day was Rob Gale who managed to survive the testing conditions until he hit the finish boat then capsize whilst doing the 360 penalty. The wind then flipped "Pickle" another 360 degrees all within a couple of boat lenghts from the finish line and the Committeee boat. His wife Suzanne who was on the Committee boat had a perfect view of his outstanding skills.

Heat 5:- Conditions for heat 5 returned to light after 25 knot winds for heats 3 & 4 so there were few contenders for this award. Rob Gale the winner for the previous day presented the award to Richard Jackson. Richard had glued two cracks of his hull from the previous day and the glue did not harded so he had to "gaffer" tape the cracks. Mid way through Heat 5 the pin on his side stay slipped out causing his mast to fall over. Luckily the pin stayed in the fitting and he some how managed to stand his mast upright again and reinsert the pin and recommenced sailing. By this time he was well and truly last but managed to catch up to the fleet and pass some boats.

Heat 6:- In moderate winds there were not a lot of reported contenders for this award after heat 6 however it was awarded to Geoff Smith who had a rather eventful day by having to do a 720 at the start and in the process of doing his penalty fell out the boat. During the race he managed to hit a mark and guess what happened whilst doing his penalty 360. You guessed it!! he fell out of the boat again.

Heat 7:- With the race held in 3-5 knot winds there was not a lot happening for this award. Geoff Smith awarded the trophy to Ashley Parkinson as it was his birthday and having to sail in those conditions on his birthday was not the best birthday present. To rub salt into the wound Ashley failed to finish within the time limit which realy made it a birthday to remember and one S***T of a day!!!.

Australasian Masters Games

A successful Masters Games regatta was held at the Adelaide Sailing Club although the last two races were cancelled because of strong winds.

Open winners were Presented with their medals at the Presentation dinner held at the Club.