Hello Sabre sailors
Here is a report on the 45th NSW Sabre State Championships held at Taree a couple of weeks ago. Sorry for the delay, it’s always busy this time of year and I haven’t been able to get to this until now!
The 45th SSANSW State Championships were sailed on the 25th – 26th of November 2023 at Taree Aquatic Club on the majestic Manning River.
With a forecast of light NE winds and 4 races scheduled for session 1, the AP was posted for a brief period before the race committee got racing underway for heat 1 with 15 starters in a shifting NE-N breeze and a run-out tide. Getting the start seemed to be an advantage in the light breeze and a short course with the lead boats at the top mark reaching away and opening up a lead on the chasing fleet, with Troy Lewis in Dead Reckoning leading the fleet closely followed by Stephen Bradford in the Cape and Ian Bishop in Formulation.
Heat 2 was a very similar event getting a good start and getting to the top mark in clean air with some hard choices to be made whether to chase the breeze in the middle of the river or get out of the tide and hug the bank. Troy was able to get to the line first over Stephen for second and Harriet Woodrow in Play On for third.
Heat 3 saw the course being extended in length. A big shift seconds before the start caught a group behind the start boat with no breeze. Craig Simpson in Espresso and Brad Gorman in Sabretage made most of the testing conditions finishing first and second respectively, holding off Troy who had to fight his way through the pack for third.
Heat 4 saw the committee having to change course with the breeze swinging hard left and reversing the course rounding to starboard. Harriet had jumped to a good lead with Brad, Troy, and Craig in pursuit. Harriet sailed well to hold off the fast-finishing pack to claim the win from Troy and Brad.
With a very light unstable breeze on day 2, the AP was posted for a few restless hours and a lot pondering of what might eventuate. The breeze decided to settle in the ENE around 8 knots, the AP was dropped, and the fleet gathered in what would be a competitive afternoon of sailing. In heat 5, Craig came away with the win from Richard Dodds in Into the Woods and Stephen.
In heat 6, the fleet was very active with battles throughout the fleet taking place, lead changes and overeager boats on the start line saw a few penalties issued. Local Richard had got out in front with Ian sailing a great race to claim second and Craig making up the final podium place.
Heat 7 – Unbelievably the race committee had managed to achieve what seemed to be impossible earlier in the day and had run all the proposed heats. The fleet was very tight throughout the race. Craig had once again got in front and claimed the win making his third heat win. If not for a couple of poor results on day one, he would most certainly have been in with a huge chance of the title. Richard Dodds claimed second in what was a better day for him in the results. Stephen Bradford took out third to better his overall results.
What was a fantastic State Championships! With great race management from the Taree Aquatic Club Race Committee to be able to complete a seven-race series in two days and very testing conditions. The racing was always very close throughout the fleet with four different heat winners on scratch and a very hotly contested handicap championship to play for.
State champion for the 45th SSANSW was Troy Lewis (Dead Reckoning 2033) from Taree Aquatic Club, with Stephen Bradford (The Cape 2224) from Lindisfarne Sailing Club in second place and Craig Simpson (Espresso 1778) from Kogarah Bay Sailing Club in Third Place.
The handicap state champion was Chris Giaquinto (Laura Louise 1712) from Kogarah Bay Sailing Club, with Hamish Robertson (Katana 1744) from Big River Sailing Club in second and Iian Bishop (Formulation 1962) from Kogarah Bay Sailing Club taking out third place.
Hariet Woodrow (Play On 2041) took the female skipper trophy.
The early discussion is that the 46th State Championships will be held at Kogarah Bay Sailing Club. Stay tuned for further information.
Final results are here:
|
BOAT |
SAIL NO. |
CLUB |
SKIPPER |
H1 |
H2 |
H3 |
H4 |
H5 |
H6 |
H7 |
TOTAL |
FINAL |
|
DEAD RECKONING |
2033 |
TAC |
TROY LEWIS |
1 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
4 |
6 |
5 |
22 |
16 |
|
THE CAPE |
2113 |
LFC |
STEPHEN BRADFORD |
2 |
2 |
12 |
6 |
2 |
8 |
3 |
35 |
23 |
|
ESPRESSO |
1778 |
KBSC |
CRAIG SIMPSON |
16OCS |
14 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
40 |
24 |
|
INTO THE WOODS |
1685 |
TAC |
RICHARD DODDS |
10 |
4 |
5 |
11 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
36 |
25 |
|
PLAY ON |
2041 |
BRSC |
HARRIET WOODROW |
6 |
3 |
7 |
1 |
8 |
5 |
7 |
37 |
29 |
|
FORMULATION |
1962 |
KBSC |
IAN BISHOP |
3 |
9 |
6 |
7 |
7 |
2 |
4 |
38 |
29 |
|
JUST IN TIME |
2096 |
TAC |
WARREN RUPRECHT |
4 |
8 |
11 |
5 |
5 |
4 |
6 |
43 |
32 |
|
SABRETAGE |
1739 |
KBSC |
BRAD GORMAN |
5 |
7 |
2 |
3 |
9 |
16OCS |
9 |
51 |
35 |
|
SHAKE, RATTLE AND ROLL |
2060 |
CYC |
GEOFF COMFORT |
11 |
5 |
4 |
8 |
6 |
9 |
16OCS |
59 |
43 |
|
NEW TRICKS |
1945 |
PHOSC |
IAIN MINTO |
7 |
10 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
7 |
11 |
65 |
54 |
|
KATANA |
1744 |
BRSC |
HAMISH ROBERTSON |
8 |
11 |
10 |
9 |
10 |
10 |
8 |
66 |
55 |
|
FIREFLY |
1941 |
KBSC |
JAMIE SIMPSON |
16DNF |
6 |
12 |
12 |
11 |
11 |
10 |
80 |
64 |
|
LAURA LOUISE |
1712 |
KBSC |
CHRIS GIAQUINTO |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
12 |
12 |
12 |
91 |
76 |
|
DRAWING THE LINE |
2037 |
TAC |
STUART FERGUSON |
9 |
15 |
8 |
13 |
16DNC |
16DNC |
16DNC |
93 |
77 |
|
LADY |
1034 |
TAC |
IAN OXENFORD |
12 |
12 |
15 |
14 |
14 |
13 |
13 |
94 |
79 |
|
TAC=Taree Aquatic, LFC=Lindisfarne, KBSC=Kogarah Bay, BRSC=Big River (Harwood), CYC=Canberra Yacht Club, PHOSC=Port Hacking Open. |
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Are your family asking what you would like for Christmas? Not a SSANSW member yet?
Just send them this link – SSANSW Membership Here
2023/24 SSANSW Event Calendar
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Event |
Host |
Date |
Link |
|
2023/24 Sabre Australian Championships
|
McCrae Yacht Club |
28th December, 2023 – 3rd January, 2024 |
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|
Wallagoot Lake Boat Club Regatta
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Wallagoot Lake Boat Club |
9th – 10th March, 2024 |
Coming in 2024! |
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As part of managing the SSANSW, we need to work with as many Sabre sailors as possible. We have fleets at 6 clubs in NSW/ACT and would like to include a club representative from each of these clubs on our committee mailing list. The SSANSW would like to involve all our fleets in discussions about events, etc. We need representatives from Connells Point Saining Club and Wallagoot Lake Boat Club to cover all our fleets. If you are interested, please give me a call on 0411 268 146 to discuss your involvement.
Quiet time over the holiday period? You might like to look at the following and add any questions or comments – SSANSW facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/sabreNSW/ Sabre performance forum – https://www.facebook.com/groups/sabre.performance.forum/
Any boats for sale? Still looking for a Sabre for a Laser sailor in Canberra who is looking to change to a Sabre. His budget is up to $3500. If you know of any boats in your club that may be for sale, could you let me know?
Any other news or questions – please let me know if have any information to include in our mail out, including any events for the calendar.
All the best to you and your family over the Christmas and New Year break and good sailing to all those at the Sabre National titles.
Geoff Comfort – Sabre 2060
SSANSW Vice President
[email protected]
0411 268 146