Please select your home edition
Edition
J Composites 2022 - J99 LEADERBOARD

2023 Ronstan 505 Australian Championship at Darling Point Sailing Squadron - Day 4

by Jordan Spencer 27 Jan 15:01 PST 22-28 January 2023
505 Australian Championship 2023 © Jordan Spencer

Ooff... there is nothing worse than grovelling around in the bottom of a dinghy on a light wind, drifter day, unless of course that day is humid...

The wind did not co-operate today. Racing was in a light South Easter with little but slowly building current as we were at the start of the ebb. It was the second last day of racing and the program had 3 more races for those two days with the prospects for wind on the last day looking marginal as well.

Racing started in 5 knots. If you look at the observations, most of the day was calm, but some wind did try to come in and it was in this wind the race started. However, by the time of that race start, the wind was already dying out. And much like when a breeze is trying to establish, when it dies, it does tend to clock in one direction, (not the boy band people). By the time the fleet rounded the top mark the breeze was down to 2 knots. A lot of the fleet gybed early, chasing zephyrs or looking for less tide, some continued on. Regardless, it was soon a scene of collapsed kites and sweaty crews. As the breeze breathed its last breath it slowly started clocking right, (as you look upwind). The early gybers on port were getting lifted, those that had continued on, could gybe and be looking straight at the bottom mark.

On the battle for overall Paterson/Schoenhoff were an early gyber and were, for a while, the most left boat, (looking downwind). Quirk/Brokerhoff were over that way too. In the battle for third and fourth, the Higgins' and Stivano and Burt had continued on, so benefitted from the change in wind direct. Both were able to reach to the bottom mark where the committee boat sat with an S flag finishing the race. Stivano and Burt won, gaining a point on the Higgins' pairing. Paterson/Schoenhoff and Quirk/Brokerhoff both had their worst races. The fleet were then sent home.

Given both our leaders took drops, there is still a 5 point gap at the front with hopefully two races to come. Today's racing starts at 12, but it is unlikely the wind will start to fill in until then. No racing can be started after 3.00pm. welcome to the final day!!

Full results can be found here.

Related Articles

Simply the Best: 5o5 celebration at Hayling Island
The last great 'untold' narrative of dinghy development It is one of those sadder facts for our long established 'senior' classes, that when they were first developed, no one could have envisaged that they would still be at the forefront of our sport a lifetime later. Posted on 7 Mar
Interview with Hyde Sails' Ben McGrane
Talking all things sail at the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show Mark Jardine speaks to Ben McGrane of Hyde Sails at the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show 2023 about the sail loft's developments in the OEM and One-Design markets, and his sailing plans for the year ahead. Posted on 27 Feb
'Simply the Best'
We talk to Dougal Henshall about his 5o5 tome For many years now the story of one of the sport's most iconic dinghies, the 5o5, has been shrouded in something of a mystery. Where did that wonderful reverse flared hull shape come from? Posted on 26 Feb
505 Australian Championship overall
Slightly more breeze on the final day at Darling Point The final day of the Ronstan 505 Australian Championships was more of the same, light gradient breezes, but this time just slightly more breeze than yesterday. Posted on 29 Jan
505 Australian Championship Day 3
Winning major regattas is hard... Day 3 of the Ronstan Australian 505 Championships had the prospect for more wind. There was blue sky and the breeze started filling in early. Posted on 27 Jan
505 Australian Championship Day 2
Beautiful sunny conditions Qld is renowned for blocked by cloud all day Well, I promised breeze for day 2 and I lied. The beautiful sunny conditions Qld is renowned for were blocked by cloud all day. As a result, the thermal didn't eventuate, and racing was held in light North to NNE breeze. Posted on 25 Jan
505 Australian Championship Day 1
Michael Quirk and Felix Brockerhoff open with a 1,2,2 It was a busy day today for the 505 fleet. The race committee went for three races in anticipation of some difficult conditions later in the week. Posted on 24 Jan
505 Australian Championship Invitation Race
Mild conditions for the fleet at Darling Point Like any good invitation race, you take what you want from the form on display. What they do well is open the door to speculation. Posted on 24 Jan
505 Australian Championships preview
Class is seeking youth and there are a few teens steering boats The 2023 Ronstan Australian Championships start today at Darling Point Sailing Squadron in Manly Queensland, (the one with the blue roof). Posted on 23 Jan
505 Midwinter Championship interview
We talk with Ethan Bixby about the 2023 505 Midwinter Championship Sail-World checked in with Ethan Bixby, event chair of this year's 505 Midwinter Championship, via email, to learn more about this exciting One Design regatta. Posted on 17 Jan
J Composites 2022 - J45 v4 FOOTERRooster 2020 - Impact BA - FOOTERRS Sailing 2021 - FOOTER