MHYC Winter Series - Win for Juniors in Race 3

by Alana Whitting on 22 May 2012 Middle Harbour Yacht Club’s (MHYC) Junior Sailing Team, aboard J24 Whisper, have won on PHS in Division 3, in race three of the Sydney City Marine Winter Series.

The race on Saturday 19 May saw the Junior Team comprising Mara Mohan, Conor Campbell and Jayden Rouse enjoy idyllic Winter Series sailing.

Leon Wilson, Chief Instructor of the MHYC Junior Sailing program and crew member aboard Whisper for their win, commented; 'We had a great race out on the water and the kids did really well to beat a fleet of more experienced sailors, especially as this is only race three of the series and other boats in our Division have raced within this series for many seasons.'

This win moves Whisper in to third place overall in Division 3 with In The Red first and Impeccable second.

Current series standings in other Divisions are:

Division 1
IRC
MRZ
Stormaway
Wailea

PHS
Wailea
MRZ
Stormaway

Division 2
Ten8ious
Contentious
2Xcess

Division 3
In The Red
Impeccable
Whisper

This ten race Saturday series runs through to Saturday 14 July 2012 and offers two drops to series entrants. There will be no racing over the Queen’s Birthday Long Weekend (9, 10 and 11 June).

Weekly place-getters will be rewarded with a great range of gear from Sydney City Marine, with the Sydney City Marine Perpetual Trophy for the overall divisional winners.

Racing is on the ‘Sound of Sydney Harbour’, with a First Warning Signal at 1200 hours. Course lengths are specifically tailored to wind strength. The series offers IRC and PHS results and divisions are determined to ensure competitive racing delivered to all competitors.

Divisions:
Division 1 – IRC and PHS Spinnaker
Division 2 - PHS Spinnaker
Division 3 - PHS Spinnaker and Non-Spinnaker/Cruising

Contact the MHYC Sailing Office for further details, Notice of Race and Entry Forms on 9969 1244 or sailing-admin(at)mhyc.com.au or visit the MHYC website.

Week Three Race Report - from our on water race reporter, Phil Clinton:
Hughie is not as fit as he once was and ran out of puff for race three. With a forecast of light winds from the West to South West he was true to his word on the day.

The start boat was found out in the sound towards North Head on station with an inflatable mark set over towards Sow and Pigs Reef.

So a quick check of the winter courses and there it was, Course 10 a four lap Windward/Leeward course.

The breeze across the course was light and in narrow bands. So it was going to be an interesting start and first leg. Division 1 was off on time with a clear start, that was easy no one was near the line. Watching them work away from the line the fleet split into those heading left towards South Head and those who went right towards Middle Head. There seemed to be steps up the course and those who took the left early and then tacked right seemed to do better. This pattern also applied to the other two divisions.

The first run also saw yachts opting for bear away sets and gybe sets. Again those working the angles and maintaining pressure in the light winds faired best.

On the second work the wind was shifting from the West to South West as predicted and the right side was becoming more favoured. The top mark again saw yachts trying all sorts of different tactics on the short downwind legs.

The bottom mark also provided some interesting sights. A couple of general observations from the start boat, yachts that hoisted their headsails before the mark and dropped their kites at the mark seemed to fare better than those that tried to carry their kites to windward. Turning at the mark seemed an advantage over those who sailed past the mark. Very sage words from the team.

The windward legs continued to change on each leg as the wind went further south.

But the wind rather than dropping increased slightly to 10 to 12 knots making it a short race.

A great result from the Junior Sailing J24 Whisper with a win on PHS in Division #3.

What a fantastic winters sailing day.

Results:
Division #1
IRC
MRZ
Wailea
Stormaway

PHS
Wailea
MRZ
Stormaway

Division #2
Ten8ious
2Xcess
Lunchcutter

Division #3
Whisper
In The Red
Twitcher

Hughie is fully recovered and the forecast for next week is North West 20 to 30 knots. Let’s hope Hughie runs out of puff during the week.

Phil Clinton – Vice Commodore Racing, Middle Harbour Yacht Club Middle Harbour Yact Club website.