The first 2 races were held on Saturday January 21st at the Latrobe Valley Yacht Club in very light conditions. The 2 races were also scheduled LVYC races in which our Explorer 16’s competed. We had 9 boats entered in the Series with 8 boats making it to the pond to race.
The first of the 2 “Back to Back” races was held in very light air, challenging all sailors and without a good start, making it almost impossible to gain ground.
Results for the first race were:
1st Meander
2nd Captain Phasma
3rd Old Salt
4th Swallow
5th Emily
6th Edna May
7th Up Wright
8th Kalang DNS: Merlin
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| Meander under kite winning the first race |
The second race was sailed in even lighter air with the wind so light that 2 Explorer’s were unable to complete the race (DNC).
Results for the second race were:
1st Captain Phasma
2nd Swallow
3rd Up Wright
4th Emily
5th Meander
6th Old Salt
DNC Kalang & Edna May
DNS: Merlin
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| Captain Phasma taking line honours in Race 2 |
The next 2 races of the Series were planned to be “Back to Back” races on Saturday 03rd March hosted by the Williamstown Sailng Club but only one race was completed on the day. The wind was variable with an increase forecasted for later on. The fleet sailed to the start line in Hobsons Bay to await the starting sequence where we waited.. waited... waited a bit more...then kept on waiting for the course to be laid. The race was completed just before a front crossed the Bay with strong winds sending all into a frenzy and canceling the second race.
Results for race 3 of the Series were:
1st Swallow
2nd Captain Phasma
3rd Edna May 4th Meander 5th Kalang
6th Emily
7th Old Salt
DNS: Up Wright & Merlin
The last 2 races of the Series were again held at the WSC on Saturday 21st April and this time the two “Back to Back” races were completed. At the time of briefing the winds were extremely light and variable below 2 knts with the 13:00 start initially delayed pending a predicted increase. The change came in around 13:40 with SSW wind at 5-10 knts steadying at 10-12 knts giving the fleet good air to complete the championship series.
Results for race 4 of the Series were:
1st Captain Phasma
2nd Swallow
3rd Edna May
4th Emily
5th Kalang
6th Old Salt
7th Merlin
DNS: Up Wright & Meander
Results for race 5 of the Series were:
1st Swallow
2nd Edna May
3rd Captain Phasma
4th Emily
5th Old Salt
6th Merlin
7th Kalang
DNS: Up Wright & Meander
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| Light air dousing the kite after the race |
The final placing for the 2018 Outright Champion was very close and required the “Rules of Racing for a Tied Series” to be applied to determine the overall winner. We congratulate Sue Burke (Swallow) as this years Explorer 16 Champion.
We also congratulate Ric Lamont (Captain Phasma) ,for a very close second place in his first Explorer 16 Championship, and all our other winners.
Final Results for the 2018 Explorer 16 Championship Series:
OUTRIGHT CHAMPION: SUE BURKE – Swallow & Crew
OUTRIGHT SECOND PLACE: RIC LAMONT – Captain Phasma & Crew
OUTRIGHT THIRD PLACE: MICHAEL LAMBIRIS – Edna May & Crew
HANDICAP FIRST PLACE: FRANK STRICKLAND – Emily & Crew
HANDICAP SECOND PLACE: RAY CLINCH – Old Salt & Crew
HANDICAP THIRD PLACE: GEORGE GIULIANI – Kalang & Crew
AWARDS
The Cecil Jeffs Memorial Shield: SUE BURKE
The Sam Cohen Memorial Shield: FRANK STRICKLAND
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| 2018 State Champion Sue Burke with crew Tracey |
