PSYC 2023 - Issue #5
Port Sydney Yacht Club 2023 - Issue #5
Commodore's Corner
Edward Gledhill, Co-Commodore
Ahoy, members!
Welcome to this week's (slightly shorter) issue of the PSYC Newsletter. A slightly lower turnout and average winds for Race #2 didn't diminish enjoyment for those who went out; a fuller report and results are below.
We would like to thank Sharon Vance and Mary Ann Hand for their continued work in Committee Boat duties, and to thank/welcome the Lauries as the Crash Boat for the next several weeks - this is a great addition. Thanks, too, to the Beadles for hosting a well-attended party on their property last week, and to Dean (Vice-Commodore) for his work on scorekeeping duties and recent discussions he and I have had about club equipment and racing (sailors: more details soon).
We would like to wish long-standing member and former Race Committee Officer, Doug Golding, the very best for a swift recovery following some time in hospital, now that he is back home.
Following the sailing party at the Beadles' last week, Co-Commodore, Stephanie, had this to say:
It was a great turnout with about 20ish people, great food and company. There was no need for a skippers' meeting (the minutes from the last meeting can be found here; password: psyc).
Thanks - in advance - for reading, and see you soon at the next race or party. Let's hope for good weather on Saturday.(From my own perspective, we are leaving the cloudy UK behind soon - looking forward to being back at the lake!)
-EG ⚓
📅 This Week
⛵ - Race #3 will take place in the standard format with the usual start time of 2:15pm on Saturday, July 15th.
There is currently no sailing party this week, due to a shortage of volunteers. If you would like to volunteer at the last minute, please get in touch with Edward here. There will likely be a sailors' gathering after the race - details will be sent to racers on Saturday with the pre-race information.
Advanced notice: there will be a skippers' meeting during the sailing party on July 22nd (Race #4). The party that week will be hosted by Gail & Peter Tabbitt - more details in next week's issue.
✍️Race Report: Saturday, July 8th
Sue Tovee, Commodore Emeritus
Our second race of 2023, held on Saturday, July 8th, was a go despite early fears of minimal wind forcing a choice between the dreaded drifter and postponement. Fortunately the breeze moved into the six to ten knots range in a timely manner and start time saw five craft jockeying for position on the start line with a sixth boat arriving for a much later start.
Although Dean MacMurtry and crew Sue were first to cross the start line, it did not take Warren Hall and crew Brad long to close the gap and ease into first position. By the first windward mark off Rocky Island, with typical westerly, gusty and shifting winds, Warren, who found the delicate setup to squirt straight to the buoy, beat out solo sailor Mark Beadle who was forced into an extra maneuver.
Bill Lobb and crew, Mark, who had had onshore mechanical issues arrived as the fleet was starting second lap. In this second rounding, John Hogg and Laura were hot on the stern of Hall with MacMurtry, Beadle and Ted Johnson and crew, Stephanie, closing on Hogg during the reach.
In the final upwind leg, the charging Hogg craft tried to head up to starboard, hoping (unsuccessfully) for a strong, right wind shift to close the gap. Hall finished first (again!), Hogg second (again!), MacMurtry third, Beadle fourth and Johnson fifth. Lobb finished sixth as a DNF as the course closed due to weather concerns. At the end of the day, except for the first five minutes, the Hall boat was in first the entire race.
Congrats to all sailors on a good race! Thanks go to Sharon Vance and Mary Ann Hand for running the start line from their cute and petite speedster; thanks go also to Tom and Nancy Laurie for their Crash Boat duties as well as their assistance with Committee Boat. We are very grateful also to the Beadle family for hosting their second Club party.
🥇 Race Results & Current Standings
Race Team & Dean MacMurtry, Vice-Commodore
Results 8.7.2023
1 Warren Hall and Brad Dibble
2 John and Laura Hogg
3 Dean MacMurtry and Sue Tovee
4 Mark Beadle
5 Ted and Stephanie Johnson
6 Bill Lobb and Mark Tovee
The scoring tracker is below. A reminder that you can find this and more sailing information here, in the sailors' section of the website. Password: psyc
📸 Photo Gallery
The photos in this issue are courtesy of Nancy Laurie, who has also been assisting as Crash Boat Officer. Thank you! If any members have photos from races or parties (or even sunsets!) do send them in for a chance to be featured.
Thank you for reading this week's issue! See you soon, sailors.
The Team