Simon Grain

It’s Melbourne and as always it is never like this, but friends is was, today’s weather was an even better re-run of Day One, warm sunny and with 7-12 knot southerly breezes and flat water, the stay at homers will be wishing they weren’t.  A little point to note from John Neville’s briefing – he/she who wins the first race of the day commits them and their crew to cooking tonight’s BBQ at the Ken King Centre.

Yesterday’s problems are all fixed, ‘Sidetracked’ has new lower shrouds, ‘Sanguine’ has it’s bow fixed and ‘Baile De Luna’ has been replaced with ‘Scrumpy’, thanks to our very generous Leigh MacLeod.

So it was in Race 5 today that Brendan Lee put his hand up to cook the BBQ with a good win from Steve Wright in ‘Tinto’ and John Neville in ‘Vice Versa’.

Race Six and Sandy’s ex President, Newsletter Editor in Chief, resident Scotsman and all round keenest skipper, yelled ‘Och aye the noo’, freely translated this means ‘just now I won me first Nationals race’ and let me tell you folks if it wasn’t for being a Scotsman the credit card would be out and the bar shouted, of course being a Scotsman that didn’t happen but the beaming face is genuine (you can’t take credit for the free drinks at the BBQ Doug). Well done Doug !  In a race of upsets Jeanette Syme in ‘Wildfire’ had a well deserved second and Warren Campbell screamed into third. Wow !

An amazing thing so far is that no boat is a stand out, every boat in the top half of the fleet has had a shocker and with only one drop in this 12 race series, some of these are going to count. Consistancy is the key.

Speaking of that. Brendan Lee has now had two wins and a few shockers – here is one of them, ouch!

But it could be any one of us trying just a bit too hard. Brendan spent the race outside the course looking at this very same video immediately placed on the Vic J24 FB site by the amazing Craig Wiley on the start boat. I’m told he looked at it over 20 times just to make sure. What I haven’t told you is that we are all under ‘U’ flag in this start. Bye Bye !

Race Seven and ‘Mr J24’ Hugo Ottaway sailed away from the fleet – and John Neville in second to lead around every mark, Dave West in ‘Kaotic’ took third in a long battle from Simon Grain in ‘Jet’.

In the almost as important Thommo Cup Jeanette is creaming Ron by 4 points. Jack Fullerton, Sandy’s ‘replaced with new’ man is finally putting it together with a solid 10th place – nice shirts too Jack. Dave McKay from the South Sydney Fleet  is back in 11th, but here and sailing, he tells me he left Sydney with just one crew and put the rest together on the drive down, well done Dave, by the way has he told you he was World Moth Champion and Australian Sailor of the Year in 1969 – buy him two beers and he will tell you about it ! We love you in the class Magoo !

So you would think that Hugo would be looking pretting good at the end of Day Two and he is, but not quite as good as John Neville, sitting just one point above him on 23 points, Dave West is third on 25 points and Simon Grain is fourth on 29 points, clearly the results are close and with 5 races still to go the result is far from settled.

Well how does it all look, lets ask Brendan,

 

Back in the pack the new members of our Sandy group are finding out what bigger one design fleeet racing is all about, it’s hard racing but it’s fun and we are thrilled you guys have joined us – stick with it, we are better for your participation by far. Robin and Jim Townsend from SA have made the trip over and are as ever ardent supporters of the class and the regatta circuit, next year is your turn and we’ll be there.

For full results go here

That’s all for today folks. Cheers Simon.

Racing today got underway in glamorous conditions, sunshine and light southerlies, race’s one and two were light and then in a building but shifty breeze the fleet sailed another two for four races today with the last race sailed in a perfect 15 -16knot breeze.

Dave West sailing Arthur Crothers’ ‘Kaotic’ jumped out of the box in race one for a win from local sailor Simon Grain in ‘Jet’, with Jeanette Syme in ‘Wildfire’ from the South Sydney Fleet taking out third.

Race two saw Sandingham’s ‘Mr J24’ Hugo Ottaway in ‘Bruschetta VI’ take the gun from Jet again, with Ron Thomson in ‘Kicking’ third.

As the breeze built in the race the placings started to change around, local President, owner of the Richmond kite and general stirrer John Neville put in a solid performance to take the gun from Jordan Sunkel-Lozell in the Sandy Fleet Youth boat ‘Sidetracked’, who was sailing like a champ and Kirsty Harris in ‘Hyperactive’.

Race four, the race management team sensibly got ahead of the program with a questionable weather forecast for Saturday, saw local worlds aspirant Brendan Lee sailing ‘By the Lee’ take the gun from Hugo and Steve Wright sailng ‘Tinto’ the lastest addition to the Australian fleet from Germany.

So the top 5 with very close results for the day go like this.

1	1.0S	5400	BRUSCHETTA VI	Hugo Ottaway	SYC	20.0	2.0	7.0	1.0	10.0
2		5386	TINTO	Steve Wright	CSC	20.0	3.0	4.0	8.0	5.0
3	2.0S	4792	JET	Simon Grain	SYC	21.0	6.0	11.0	2.0	2.0
4		5246	HYPERACTIVE	Kirsty Harris	SYC	21.0	9.0	3.0	5.0	4.0
5		4770	KAOTIC	Dave West	MYC	22.0	4.0	13.0	4.0	1.0

Full results are here

That’s what the results say, so what really happened ?

Jet looked great after the first two races, then faded, but in a gentlemans agreement with John Neville is one jug up !

Hugo started badly with a 10th but won the day, on a count back from Steve Wright – not exactly creaming the day but 1 point ahead of Jet and Hyperactive. And Kaotic with mixed performances is a further point back.

Looks like Simon likes the light but Hugo likes the mid breezes.

Back in the fleet, Chris Ravesi in ‘Sanguine’ had an altercation with newcomer Patricio Sepulveda in ‘Baile de Luna’. Jordan in Sidetracked busted a lower shroud when doing rather well near the top mark.

‘There be more stories’ – I just don’t know them. However Craig Wiley one of the race management team doing a great job on the start boat has posted videos of the starts on the J24 FB page. Click on the video below to see them.

Luis Ferreiro our amazing photographer who took awesome pics at Sandy’s last Nationals is also out this year and here is a quick selection of some shots from today.

PH: 0439 353 865
www.luisferreiro.com

More tomorrow. Simon.

J24 World Championships Fraglia Vela Riva . http://expertolympicgarda.fragliavelariva.it/

Article from Sail-World
The World Council Meeting, held at the historic seat of Fraglia Vela Riva with the members of the international class J24 and the representatives of other world classes (including the Italian Pietro Diamanti and Fabio Apollonio), has officially disclosed that the J24 World Championship 2018 will take place in Riva del Garda from 24th to 31st August, which will follow the National Championships of the same class scheduled middle May.

The J24 is one of the most loved and spread monotype classes worldwide with 50,000 sailors and over 5,000 boats in almost 40 countries with a dynamic competing activity both at Italian and international level.

“It is a pleasure to host once again the J24 fleet for its major events as the Italian Championships (Open) in May and the Worlds at the end of August – stated the Fraglia Vela Riva’s President Giancarlo Mirandola and added, “this class is part of the sailing history and reveals to be lively and spread worldwide. After having hosted the 1999 and 2009 Nationals here in Riva del Garda, it is a great honour to organize the World Championship in 2018. Our club turns out to be up to this kind of major sporting events by granting the high standards requests of the international class, not only in term of logistics”.

The regatta will consist of ten races, for which many talented teams are expected to sail being attracted not only by the magnificent race course, but also by the natural beauties of Garda Trentino and the renowned organizing skills of Fraglia Vela Riva.

“The Fraglia Vela Riva’s representatives showed the members of the international class and the J24 presidents the facilities of the club, pinpointing the range of possibilities for the moorings of the boats, the trailers parking, and the services offered to the competitors – explained Pietro Diamanti, J24 Italian president – particular attention is payed to the venue of the gauge the tonnage, since Tim Winger, Technical Chair of the international class, asked for an indoor space sheltered from the wind in other to prevent any mistake in the gauging. Hence, the tonnage gauging will be located in the near PalaVela building part of ‘Riva del Garda FiereCongressi’”.

After the tour of the club, the participants of the “World Council Meeting” acknowledged the suitability of the facilities and appreciated the professional competence of Fraglia Vela Riva in running world events. Moreover, it was decreed that the World Championship will have a limited participation number of 80 boats. The Italian fleet, as hosting nation, has the right to entry 24 pre-selected boats and one boat for the former World Champion, one for the 2017 Italian Champion, one female team, one youth team (under 25) and two boats of the organizing club.

If you want togo to this article use this URL: swc.sail-world.org/158710

Sandringham Yacht Club and the Victorian J24 Association invites entries for 2018 J24 National Championships, to be sailed on Port Phillip off Sandringham, from 4 January to 7 January 2018.

We are expecting a large entry this summer as the Nationals are the selection trials for the Lake Garda Worlds next year and there is plenty of interest being shown for the available Australian places. So get cracking on organising your crew, boat, accommodation and entry.

Entry fee is a low $380 this year.

STOP PRESS Regatta crew shirts will be available this year and for skippers who enter and pay before Friday 17 November, you will be able to nominate your crew shirt sizes.

Race Program
Day 1 Thursday 4 January No earlier than 1030
Day 2 Friday 5 January No earlier than 1030
Day 3 Saturday 6 January No earlier than 1130
Day 4 Sunday 7 January No earlier than 1030
There will be no resails after Sunday 7 January 2018

Race Documents and online entry

Notice of Race

Online Entry

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Organized social events will include:

Date	Event	Location and time
3 January	Welcome BBQ	Ken King Centre at SYC, following registration
4 January	SYC Twilight Race
5 January	BBQ	To be confirmed
6 January	No scheduled event
7 January	Presentation dinner	Harbour View Restaurant at SYC.  7pm

TRAILER AND CAR PARKING

• Road trailers used to transport interstate boats to and from the regatta may be stored at the Sandringham Yacht Club for the duration of the event.
• Each interstate boat will be provided with parking for one vehicle in the SYC member’s car park during the event. An access “key” will be required, subject to the payment of a refundable bond.
• Car parking for Victorian members (boat owners and crew) will be subject to the normal rule of access at SYC. Car parking is available in Council car parks in Jetty Road or in nearby streets for those without SYC car park access.
  .
  .
• For more information please contact
  Graeme Mills
  Mobile: 0438100797
  Email:     getmills@bigpond.com

The J24 Class in Australia and Melbourne in particular have lost one of our dearest members.

Kirby came to us around 2008 and quickly realised a love of sailing, crewing with Mike Lewenhagen and then chartering his boat when he went overseas, a gutsy move as she was still very new to sailing. But that was typical of Kirby’s attitude to life –travelling, sailing, cycling, bush walking, running, swimming, kayaking, in fact almost anything outdoors and fitness oriented. She was cool in her Mini Cooper, gorgeous in her race going finery and our happy Kirb at the club.

She sailed with many of us at Sandy predominantly with Simon Grain, Ron Thomson and Hugo Ottaway in recent years.

Kirby also enjoyed a road trip and made many new friends at regattas interstate.  Just in the past year she sailed with Shane Guanaria and Arthur Crothers to a second place finish in the Nationals, travelled with Hugo to win the Cronulla Short Course Regatta, again with Hugo and the all-conquering team on Bruschetta VI to win the Women In Sailing (WISC) regatta. Her smile, quick wit and dry sense of humour made every boat she was on a brighter, happier place to be.

Kirby was about fun in her busy life as we all know, but she was also a tireless worker on the Vic Committee for years and earlier on the National Committee, both as treasurer – always volunteering first for work to be done, she gave so much to the class and all of us. She had a strong moral code and stood up for what was right, she spent time as a volunteer in Africa and travelled extensively to many parts of the world including many off the beaten track.

Kirb has left us far too soon and her energy and smile will be greatly and sadly missed.

You will sail on with us in our hearts Kirb.  Rest In Peace.

The June long weekend saw the running of the Cronulla Sailing Club J24 Short Course Regatta in cold though fine (almost) conditions with wind ranging from 18-3 kts over the 2 days of sailing.

Competitors arrived from as far afield as Sandringham Yacht Club, the southern home of J24 yacht racing in Australia, with one boat Jet (Simon Grain) and another crew lead by ‘Mr J24’ Hugo Ottaway, both J24 supporters of the Cronulla event for many years, also Wildfire (Janette Syme) and Marc Van Dinther (Pinot) made the journey from the Harbour and Botany Bay, to sail in the challenging inshore conditions of Bate Bay, Cronulla.

Our focus this year was to welcome new J24 crews to the Cronulla family. Sailmates (Steve Arnold) competed in their first regatta after purchasing their J24 locally, also Boudicca (John Zagame) an off shore crew member and now a proud J24 owner, enthusiastically listening and improving as the weekend progressed. Wes Batty, another local from Cronulla bringing out Pandamonium, the ever popular mooring minder to race and be involved again.

So to the results, Hugo Ottaway again proved too good on scratch scoring a consistent 12 with many bullets and second places. Second for the regatta was Vertigo (Clinton Hood), the current South Australian J24 State Champion, with Renaissance (Stephen Wright) the current Jubilee Champion and Cronulla campaigner.

Performance Handicap saw Vertigo pop up one place to first, Stockcar with the forever young David Mckay in second and Renaissance in third place.

The Cronulla Sailing Club would like to thank all our the events supporters; Wet Tech Rigging, Macquart Marine, Aussea Sailing School, Spot-A-Yacht Photography, Newton Real Estate, Short Marine, CJ Construction, Cronulla Marina and Ryan Short Marine Services for your ongoing support to this grass roots event. Hope to see you all again at Cronulla next June for the Mid-Winter Championships.

Series OD results :  (Full race results are available at   cronullasc.com/race-results?page=J24SC16-17/SGrp66.htm

Place	Ties	Sail No	Boat Name	Skipper	Crew	Crew.	From	Sers Score
1		AUS5400	Bruschetta IV	Hugo Ottaway			SYC	12
2		AUS4436	Vertigo	Clinton Hood			CSC	21
3	1.0S	AUS1636	Renaissance	Stephen Wright			CSC	22
4		AUS4792	Jet	Simon Grain			SYC	22
5		AUS4433	Stockcar	David McKay			CSC	23
6		AUS5058	Wildfire	Janette Syme			MYC	37
7		AUS1317	MCKAY MARINE	Julie Castle			CSC	53
8		AUS1309	ONLY A JOURNEY	Max Sellers			CSC	54
9		AUS1635	Seas the J	Jared Macquart			CSC	60
10		AUS4430	PINOT	Barry Ryan			CSC	62
11		AUS135	Boudicca	John Zagame	Josh Feldmann	Jacob Broom	CSC	74
12		AUS1646	SLIPPERY FISH	Michael Reynolds			CSC	82
13		AUS1642	JARGON	Tony Landers			CSC	85
14		AUS950	Pandamonium	Wes Batty			CSC	95
15		AUS95	Sailmates	Steve Arnold			CSC	97
16		AUS4439	Jagged Edge	Greg Paterson			CYCA	121

Cronulla Sailing Club, is running their annual J24 Short Course Regatta, proudly sponsored by Wet-Tech. On the 10th and 11th of June 2017, which is the Queens Birthday long weekend. Everyone is welcome to come and share more of the great ocean sailing and incredible Cronulla hospitality. This regatta is more about the BBQ’s with some sailing thrown in between drinks. Limits, no limits … so leave your scales at home.

Go here for the Cronulla Event page with NOR and Event Registration … here

Event Schedule

Friday 09th June 2017

Crane available for use 1200 – 2200hrs

Registration 1600 – 2200hrs

Saturday 10th June 2017

Registration 0800 – 0900hrs

Regatta Briefing 0930hrs

Racing First Warning Signal 1155hrs

Prize Giving BBQ         On Completion of Racing

Sunday 11th June 2017

Racing First Warning Signal 1055hrs

Prize Giving BBQ         On Completion of Racing

Monday 12th June 2017

Crane available for use 0800 – 1200hrs

Fee

Non-refundable entry fee is $120 (inc. GST), payable online through the Cronulla Sailing Club Website or through direct deposit.

It’s back !

Melbourne’s best J24 author and editor is back in business with a new issue of ‘Hit the Mark’ – the outrageous and often misquoted Doug MacGregor (and his team of 50 journalists by the river) returns to the typewriter for our benefit.

So …. Put the kettle on. Make tea. Open a packet of Jaffa
Cakes (Tim Tams are allowed). Because… we are
back!

2017 Autumn…HIT THE MARK..J24_Newsletter_2017

The 2018 J24 National Championships will be held at Sandringham Yacht Club in Melbourne.

The dates are :

3 January – Measurement, Registration and Invitation Race

4 – 7 January – Racing

7th – January, Evening – Prize Giving and Dinner in the Harbourview Restaurant

The normal venue rotation has been changed this year to coincide with the visiting Volvo Round the World Race, which arrives around the 27th December this year and leaves again on the 2nd January. This gives those interested to see the race start the opportunity to do so. There is much to yet be organised and confirmed with the Volvo visit, but we are working to organise promotional opportunities for the class to work in with the race visit in Docklands. More information to come once it has been confirmed.

There is considereable interest within the class in gaining selection for the 2018 Worlds in Lake Garda next year and the Nationals will be a major selection trial for this. Therefore, in advance of the Nationals the Vic Association is considering running a weekend practice regatta on either the 9 – 10 or the 16 – 17 December. If you would like to compete in this practice regatta please contact Simon on 0413 870 046 with your preference for dates. It depends on both competitors and club resources, but we would like some feedback if you are interested to attend. Your boat can be left at Sandy over this period.

Coulda’beens and shoulda’beens

With the passing of the Black Prince from our fleet, the aspirations of the many once again become confused with the dominance of the few. 

Some call him the new Blue Prince, others ‘Bloody Brendan’, but sportsfans, he seems to have stopped crashing and is just plain smashing the rest of us … on a regular basis ! 

First the summer aggregate and now capped off with the Vic Champs Crown, Brendan Lee sailing ‘By the Lee’ is fast and clean these days. 

He went straight out of the blocks with 2 wins on Saturday morning, fading just slightly to a drop of 5th but then came back with a 2nd in the 6th and sadly, final race on Sunday morning to win by 3 points as the lack of wind and any redeeming finish placing by those affected by mediocrity took over the day.

Second and with a real chance of taking the regatta out at the end of Saturday was Shane Guanaria steering Arthur Crothers’ ‘Kaotic’ from Sydney, one of only two interstate entries this year. As the 2018 Nationals have been changed to Sandringham, the Kaotic team have started their program for a win with this trip south of the border. 

Talking about rising stars, it seems our Vic class president has finally found the loud pedal (actually he has been loud for years), John Neville sailing ‘Vice Versa’ took out the last race taking him from 5th to 3rd in the overall standings, well done John … seems the top job might suit the result sheet. 

Promoted as the ‘Balmy Regatta’ it lived up to it’s name with great sailing on Saturday morning in a warm 12-15kn northerly, with late summer shirt and shorts sailing being enjoyable, the breeze fade somewhat in the afternoon (inline with yours truly’s placings) and the last race of the day was shortened to make sure we got a finish. With the bulk of the fleet sailing very well and compacting so much, mark rounding is becoming a real place winner … or loser !  With a little tide flowing on the top mark on Saturday, many boats had trouble making it with the tight fleet killing the already light breeze for the unfortunates struggling to make the mark. 

As usual there is a list of shoulda’beens and coulda’beens. Coming in 4th was our own ‘Mr J24’ – Hugo Ottaway in ‘Brushetta VI’ with a coulda’been 3rd, really it could have been, Hugo finished on the same points as John Neville, what we can say is that Hugo improved his placings through the regatta (pretty much) and on that track if we had sailed the full 8 races … well you know the rest ! 

Mike Bond in ‘Code Violation’ shoulda’been … further down the pack with almost zero racing this season, but came flying home to finish 5th. Bugger … shoulda’been better was Simon Grain sailing ‘Jet’  only making 6th and only by the good sailing and metal alertness of the crew, squeaking in ahead of Kirsty Harris sailing ‘Hyperactive’ on the same points … another coulda’been better due to only getting a new stick in the boat the day before after losing it over the side earlier in the year. 

There are another 10 stories in the 17 boat fleet I am sure, some old some new and we welcome our new owners, crews and their stories into our J community. Darren Cutts only had a few days to play with his new boat ‘Joyride’, Warren’s old ‘J Force’, before going into the ring. Warren’s new ‘J Force’ – the old ‘Pacemaker’ (are you following me so far) coulda’been better on previous form.  But the back end of the fleet is getting a lesson from the front, we are all happy mates ashore … but no quarter is given on the race track.  

Doug Macgregor, blistering form some days over summer … coulda’been, Ron Thomson, shoulda’been way better in this flat water series … but still took out the prestigious Thommo Cup, Ron’s seriously thinking about upgrading! Thanks for coming Janette and crew, we love seeing you down here and on the circuit. 

So it all ended prematurely on Sunday when the wind went to lunch. We had a last race start time to sit and wait for, but for those who stayed reflected in the glass – it didn’t. The two horns went off, the bar flag went up and we headed for home …. only to watch a perfect little breeze spring up for the ‘Off the beach’ fleet. Grumble, grumble … 

Christ Waters did his first major RO job under the tutelage of Wattie, and the rest of the volunteers and club workerbees did their bits …. we the gladiators, thank you once again for your untiring efforts. Thanks to Monjon for their sponsorship of the event and the class at Sandy. 

John Neville in fine form (well actually slowly drying out from Saturday night) refused the soapbox and MC’d the prizegiving at the level of the common man, a scream as usual, The Black Prince made time to present the trophies (says he doesn’t miss it … I know Herschel does), Ron Thomson supervised barbecuing the goodies the Victorian Association and Bruce Alexander had amazingly conjured up and the thirst was slaked by the many. 

Luis Ferreiro, our photographer who took the amazing pics from the last Nationals here, was out on the water and has once again captured the spirit of the regatta extraordinarily well, even with the wind ‘excitement level’ close to zero. The pics here are all his and you can see more (over 400 pics I think) of the regatta and your own boat at his website www.sportsnap.com.au   I will post some more up separately.

The Nationals are at Sandy in January and we are in the process of organising interactivity with the Volvo Fleet, once this has been achieved we will advise of the possibilities to be part of it. There is talk of a short practice regatta at Sandy in December, but if you feel the need for regatta practice, there is the Cronulla Regatta in June and the NSW States in November on the harbour (dates to be advised).