VS 15 ft Skiff National Championships Day Three action

by Michael Turton on 8 Jan 2010
Day Three of the National VS15 ft Skiff titles at Teralba ASC on Lake Macquarie saw two short courses sailed with all boats flying black leech ribbons in support for the Dodds family, who lost their father/ grandfather last night. Tim Dodds Add123 boat had been sailing well in the regatta thus far but didn't sail in today's two heats while Tim and his family attended to family affairs. Our thoughts go out to the Dodds at this sad time.

As was the case on days one and two it became the Firestorm and Dynamic Route show today with each taking out a heat. Dynamic Route suffered a regatta worst fourth in heat 5 while Firestorm won, but bounced back to terrorise the current champs by winning heat 6. Both boats are locked together on five points after discards and with the forecast for light weather for the next two days it looks like Alex Vandervoort's lightweight young gun crew are going to give this regatta a red hot go. Firestorm's more portly 45 plus year old crew led by John Hodda have found the light conditions trying but as testimony to their skill have managed to finish no worse than second in every race so far.

In heat 5 Firestorm fought through the fleet after an ordinary start to lead by the finish while Purple Headed Warrior (Mick Turton ) and Ol' Yella took out the minor places. The breeze was fickle with large changes in strength and direction allowing for massive changes in position around the course which proved particularly damaging for Steve Simms' crew on Runaway who led the race clearly at the top mark only to be left wallowing in mid fleet by the next leg. The speed and skill of the top boats was needed to the fullest extent to kerb the effects of the wind lottery on
their results.

In heat 6, Dynamic Route and Firestorm capitalised on a fresh gust that arrived at the windward mark just as they did, and both boats which had been buried back in the fleet at the start charged up to and over the top of their opponents that were trickling along in light airs, having rounded the windward mark well ahead of them. It was an exciting race with the Dynamic Route team throwing out challenge after challenge and Firestorm repelling them. However, in the end Dynamic Route snuck past firestorm on the last leg and won by a small margin to square the series up with 4 long course heats to go – two each on Saturday and Sunday.

Overall, Firestorm and Dynamic Route share the lead with Purple Headed Warrior 10 points back in third and the 'Geri's' ‘Ol Yella and Wild Track (skippered by Col Gillespie and Lindsay Allen respectively) tied in fourth 19 points.

The Teralba ASC has been superb in running the regatta setting good courses under difficult conditions and providing excellent back up and support to all sailors including canteen, amenities and rescue and chase craft. Col Searle, Mal and Angela Redmond and the sailors from other club fleets have worked tirelessly to make the regatta so far a resounding success. By the conclusion of presentation celebrations on Sunday evening the club will have catered for three major functions and provided a warm and welcoming post race environment where the VS sailors have been able to chin wag about the days racing and other general scuttlebutt.