Just had my first taste of racing today, Fremantle Sailing Club first race of the season in 15 - 18 knots.
Got myself a gig on a 34ft Farr IRC rated weapon - a total blast!!
What an eye opener after cruising the east coast last year - I think I'm going to learn a lot...........

good stuff , it is a great way to learn , as generally there are other experienced sailors on board explaining / tweaking things .

Oh my, $$$$$$$$$.
Seriously though imo racing its the quickest way to learn how to optimise boat speed in all conditions. Especially if it's your boat .

Select to expand quote

SandS said..
good stuff , it is a great way to learn , as generally there are other experienced sailors on board explaining / tweaking things .

Yes, there was almost as much tweaking as shouting

Select to expand quote

NowandZen said..

SandS said..
good stuff , it is a great way to learn , as generally there are other experienced sailors on board explaining / tweaking things .

Yes, there was almost as much tweaking as shouting

I was nearly going to say something similar to your last comment . ......but didn't want to sound negative and put you off ....the shouting will decrease as people learn their roles .
Racing for me has been great , I have never been cruising , so I am looking forward to trying that sometime if all the stars line up and it becomes possible .

Bit of racing today
Etchell pre worlds. 74 boat fleet

Select to expand quote

lydia said..
Bit of racing today
Etchell pre worlds. 74 boat fleet

Where abouts Lydia?

Who are the big players this year?

Brisbane and the usual suspects
depth of talent plenty deep though
14 bfd on the first start to get away after 3 generals

Select to expand quote

NowandZen said..
Just had my first taste of racing today, Fremantle Sailing Club first race of the season in 15 - 18 knots.
Got myself a gig on a 34ft Farr IRC rated weapon - a total blast!!
What an eye opener after cruising the east coast last year - I think I'm going to learn a lot...........

Good on you NowandZen for giving it a go!
So, were you working a specific task or are you a jack of all trades at the moment?
And is it an asymmetrical or symmetrical spinnaker boat?

Shaggy, check out aus 1275 in the pic
he he he he

Select to expand quote

lydia said..
Bit of racing today
Etchell pre worlds. 74 boat fleet

FYR all, Lydia has qualified and is entered into this Etchells Worlds, and I just wanted to wish Lydia and his crew, and all the crews a great regatta. .
Lydia is being nice and posting the "come Etchells racing me hearties!" photo.
It was a challenging day, we were sailing nearby and had decent wind in the 20's, with 30knots SSE for a bit, lot's of rain.
This is some of the other Etchells photos taken today...

Its 'thankfully only the pre-worlds races today (correct me if I'm wrong Lydia), so hopefully the guys have got time to effect repairs before the weekend.
The Combined Clubs race we were sailing today got cancelled due to the high wind warning, so we went out for a sail to watch Lydia. We could see them on the water (looked awesome) and hear them on the radio, and listening reminded me that today would have been a good shakedown for the race committee and volunteers on the course, as much as the boats competing. There appeared to be a LOT of downtime today whilst courses were being set/changed and decisions made on wind strengths etc.
All the while poor old Lydia and the rest were all sailing backwards and forwards in 20-25 knots in the driving rain, sails flapping for quite a few
hours, pretty tough conditions.

Mind you, it was pretty tough for us too....




Edit: Apologies to NowandZen for the thread drift, I just thought this convenient to stick in under a Racing thread .

In all fairness those pics are of collision damage.

Makes sense, its a weird place for a mast to snap.

Select to expand quote

shaggybaxter said..

NowandZen said..
Just had my first taste of racing today, Fremantle Sailing Club first race of the season in 15 - 18 knots.
Got myself a gig on a 34ft Farr IRC rated weapon - a total blast!!
What an eye opener after cruising the east coast last year - I think I'm going to learn a lot...........

Good on you NowandZen for giving it a go!
So, were you working a specific task or are you a jack of all trades at the moment?
And is it an asymmetrical or symmetrical spinnaker boat?

I was in the cockpit helping tacking the headsail, occasionally stuffing spinnakers into the fwd hatch and moving my 85kgs of ballast to where it was needed.
Asymmetrical spinnakers.

Select to expand quote

NowandZen said..

shaggybaxter said..

NowandZen said..
Just had my first taste of racing today, Fremantle Sailing Club first race of the season in 15 - 18 knots.
Got myself a gig on a 34ft Farr IRC rated weapon - a total blast!!
What an eye opener after cruising the east coast last year - I think I'm going to learn a lot...........

Good on you NowandZen for giving it a go!
So, were you working a specific task or are you a jack of all trades at the moment?
And is it an asymmetrical or symmetrical spinnaker boat?

I was in the cockpit helping tacking the headsail, occasionally stuffing spinnakers into the fwd hatch and moving my 85kgs of ballast to where it was needed.
Asymmetrical spinnakers.

I like the simplicity of asymetrical spinnakers, but miss a pole every time we have to travel ddw for any decent length of time.
It wasn't a First by any chance? Not one of these?

Select to expand quote

shaggybaxter said..

NowandZen said..

shaggybaxter said..

NowandZen said..
Just had my first taste of racing today, Fremantle Sailing Club first race of the season in 15 - 18 knots.
Got myself a gig on a 34ft Farr IRC rated weapon - a total blast!!
What an eye opener after cruising the east coast last year - I think I'm going to learn a lot...........

Good on you NowandZen for giving it a go!
So, were you working a specific task or are you a jack of all trades at the moment?
And is it an asymmetrical or symmetrical spinnaker boat?

I was in the cockpit helping tacking the headsail, occasionally stuffing spinnakers into the fwd hatch and moving my 85kgs of ballast to where it was needed.
Asymmetrical spinnakers.

I like the simplicity of asymetrical spinnakers, but miss a pole every time we have to travel ddw for any decent length of time.
It wasn't a First by any chance? Not one of these?

No Shaggy, a 34ft Farr.

that will keep you on your toes Now&Zen !!! fun times !!!

Select to expand quote

NowandZen said..
Just had my first taste of racing today, Fremantle Sailing Club first race of the season in 15 - 18 knots.
Got myself a gig on a 34ft Farr IRC rated weapon - a total blast!!
What an eye opener after cruising the east coast last year - I think I'm going to learn a lot...........

Good one NowandZen, I'm relatively new to racing too and I've found it really rewarding. Great for learning skills and strategy.

Given that Shaggy did such a good job at outing me here is the Pre Worlds Report (73 starters)
Achieved all the goals of a major Etchells regatta.
1. Did not go to the Room.
2. Only put a hole in one boat (not the one I drive)
3. Finished above mid fleet.
4. Pulled into the top 20 by the last race.

Now back dieting heavily for the Worlds weigh in on Saturday.

The problem i have after spending some time racing on Jeff's boat is that when i am on my boat with my wife going for a sail down the river she says i am always fiddling and adjusting stuff to try to get it going a bit quicker instead of just sitting down, leaving everything alone and enjoying the sail

Regards Don

Select to expand quote

NowandZen said..

shaggybaxter said..

NowandZen said..

shaggybaxter said..

NowandZen said..
Just had my first taste of racing today, Fremantle Sailing Club first race of the season in 15 - 18 knots.
Got myself a gig on a 34ft Farr IRC rated weapon - a total blast!!
What an eye opener after cruising the east coast last year - I think I'm going to learn a lot...........

Good on you NowandZen for giving it a go!
So, were you working a specific task or are you a jack of all trades at the moment?
And is it an asymmetrical or symmetrical spinnaker boat?

I was in the cockpit helping tacking the headsail, occasionally stuffing spinnakers into the fwd hatch and moving my 85kgs of ballast to where it was needed.
Asymmetrical spinnakers.

I like the simplicity of asymetrical spinnakers, but miss a pole every time we have to travel ddw for any decent length of time.
It wasn't a First by any chance? Not one of these?

No Shaggy, a 34ft Farr.

Sorry NowandZen, you did say that, I was having a blonde moment. She sure looks like a sweet ride, congratulations! I don't think Bruce Farr could design a bad boat if you paid him. A friend has just bought an old Farr 1104 he is pouring an serious amount of money into because he can't buy his old Farr back, and it sails remarkably well against a lot of newer boats.
Cheers!
SB

There is a book about Bruce Farrs life called The Shape of Speed which is a good read if you can get hold of a copy

Regards Don

I know most the people here go cruising but here is bit of an insight into how upfront and personal Etchell racing can get!

Pic cedit to Nic Douglass

Select to expand quote

NowandZen said..

shaggybaxter said..

NowandZen said..

shaggybaxter said..

NowandZen said..
Just had my first taste of racing today, Fremantle Sailing Club first race of the season in 15 - 18 knots.
Got myself a gig on a 34ft Farr IRC rated weapon - a total blast!!
What an eye opener after cruising the east coast last year - I think I'm going to learn a lot...........

Good on you NowandZen for giving it a go!
So, were you working a specific task or are you a jack of all trades at the moment?
And is it an asymmetrical or symmetrical spinnaker boat?

I was in the cockpit helping tacking the headsail, occasionally stuffing spinnakers into the fwd hatch and moving my 85kgs of ballast to where it was needed.
Asymmetrical spinnakers.

I like the simplicity of asymetrical spinnakers, but miss a pole every time we have to travel ddw for any decent length of time.
It wasn't a First by any chance? Not one of these?

No Shaggy, a 34ft Farr.

Gotta love those Farr MXs. But Shaggy was right too - the Benny 34.7 he showed is a Farr design and claimed to have an overall length of 34ft.