RS100 Nationals at Richmond River Sailing and Rowing Club, Ballina
Well done to Peter Milne, Grant Christensen and Andy Poulton who competed in the RS100 Nationals over the weekend. Congratulations especially to Peter Milne who won the 7th race and came third overall. Link to full results here and below is a report from Andy Poulton. The RBYC boats are the blue, green and black kites in the photo.
Sailing in the river (“The Drain” as the locals call it!) is challenging and makes you think. There is tide, river current (depending on the wind direction the current would be against you or with you at start and at the mark roundings), sandbanks, trees and branches washed from upstream and wildlife. On competitor reported seeing a turtle and a what was thought to be a small shark fin!
12 boats raced, 3 from Melbourne, 1 from Warrnambool, 7 from Richmond River and 1 from Tweed Valley Sailing Club. 9 races were scheduled with up to 4 on each day. 4 races to constitute a series with 1 drop after 6 races. The Warning Signals on Friday and Saturday were not before 1300hrs. On Sunday there Warning Signal was not before 1000hrs with no Warning Signal after 1400hrs.
3 races were held in hot conditions on Friday. Light Westerly for the first race then the North Easterly kicked in for races 2 and 3. 2 races were held on Saturday in overcast and humid conditions. Winds went from NE to ESE. During the starting sequence of the second race the wind dropped and swung 180 degrees resulting in a spinnaker start depending on where you were. The third race of the day was abandoned due to lack if wind.
Sunday morning started our cloudy with little wind. The fleet was held on shore until ENE / NE developed when the sun broke through allowing racing to start after 1100hs. The wind built to a pleasant 10-15kts with gusts up to 20 kts allowing all 4 races to completed, resulting in a full 9 races series. As is becoming the norm at regattas, the locals say “The weather is not normally like this!” There were heavy thunderstorms on the Wednesday night and again on Thursday morning with a gust of 53kts was record at the club at 0930hrs, by the afternoon pleasant sailing conditions returned.
The next RS regatta is the Victorian State Championships combined with the SE NSW regatta to be held on Lake Wallagoot which is between Tathra and Merimbula in March. A number of the Richmond River are coming.
Article provided by Andy Poulton