PSYC 2023 - Issue #9
Port Sydney Yacht Club 2023 - Issue #9: Mary Lake drifter (almost) strikes again!
Commodore's Corner
Edward Gledhill, Co-commodore
Ahoy, members!
A windy Saturday - which should have been the Port Sydney Annual Regatta - was eclipsed by a near-windless Sunday as we stuck to long-standing convention by racing on the latter last week. Despite the hot and sparse-of-wind conditions, sailors at the party remarked on "the best racing all season" with an 11-boat fleet, testament to the importance of showing up and getting around the course (not to mention that participation = points!).
As John and Laura Hogg elaborate on in this week's Race Report, the fleet hovered expectantly for 15mins, having resolved to slightly postpone the start in response to optimistic cries of 'It's filling in!'. Vindicated they were, as we raced with the usual start sequence and triangle course (albeit slightly curtailed) in fierce competition as the times attest to. Special thanks, as always, go to Sharon Vance and Mary Ann Hand (Race Committee) for sticking with the less than straight-forward conditions and another flawless start/finish procedure.
The true highlight, though, proved to be the fully-attended and sunny Sailing Party hosted by 3 generations of Douglases. To make it extra special, it coincided with John & Joan's 65th Wedding Anniversary, celebrated with extravagant food and cake! Thanks to all who made it possible for hosting us and happy anniversary, from the Club, to John and Joan.
Read on for info about this week, the year-end party, and race reports/season standings with four races to go. Thanks, as always, to all volunteers. As I write this, I have just come in from sailing on a very windy and sunny day (Wednesday*) - hoping for similar conditions on Sat!
-EG ⚓
*this issue was published later
PS
to reserve a cap or quarter-zip (Logowear), email Brian
if you have not yet paid your membership dues, please deposit by e-transfer: treasurer@portsydneyyachtclub.ca
read this week's excellent and entertaining race report, courtesy of John Hogg, below!
This Week
We return to our usual Saturday race/party day this week.
⛵ Race #7 will take place at 2:15pm on Saturday, 12th August. A race note will be sent to skippers and volunteers on Saturday morning.
🎉 The Sailing Party this week will be hosted by the Gledhills. Address: 240 Edgemere Road E, P0B 1L0. By water, they are the brown boathouse with C-shaped dock. Water is shallow off the dock, but there is boat parking space. Ample car parking space. See you from 4:30pm!
⚠️ Party host needed: Our hosts for Saturday 26th August are no longer available to host. If you are able to host that day and have not done so already this/last year, please get in touch as soon as possible. Thank you for your continued support.
Year-end party/BBQ 2023
Commodore Team & Mark and Stephanie Beadle, Party Co-ordinators
With thanks to Mark and Stephanie Beadle for acting as Party planners this year, the year-end party is on! See you on Saturday, 2nd September.
Payment should be made to Elspeth (treasurer) for tickets, by e-transfer or cash. Pricing is:
Adults (early sign up) - $25
Adults on the door - $30
Age 6-14 - $10
5 and under - free!
Please sign up to take care of the different tasks, including bringing food, setting up, tear-down, BBQing, etc. A sign-up sheet will be available at the next party. It takes a whole club to put on a BBQ!
Race #6 - 6.8.23 - Report
John & Laura Hogg, CAN7982
Sunday saw the best PSYC racing yet for 2023.
Conditions before the start were more variable than even the normal Mary Lake spin-the-dial. The race committee set up shop at the (new--thanks, Dean!) Port Sydney mark. The wind promptly backed 90 degrees. The race committee stared it in the eye and delayed a few minutes. The wind admitted defeat and veered to a dead upwind to the Forrest mark. After that it was light to reasonable to almost nothing for the rest of the race with no more than typical 45 degree Mary Lake swings.
Pin end was favoured at the start and the line was busy there. After some clearing of air, most boats went rhumb line to right. Dean was the exception with a strong left bias and as the weather mark approached, it appeared that he would lead the fleet. However, Orlando slid in from the right to round first. Warren, Ted and the Senior Hoggs followed. The fleet had broken into two races and this was Race #1.
Most of that group went high on the first reach. The Hoggs went low and by exquisite sailing skill (it had nothing to do with the luck of the winds) passed Ted and Warren who were sailing in close proximity. After rounding the gybe mark, Dean went low while the Hoggs went high and overtook them. (Did I mention that it had nothing to do with lucky puffs?) Orlando was now staring over his transom at a rapidly approaching bow and beginning to sweat. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.
Rounding the weather mark once more, Orlando had slightly increased his lead and Warren had overtaken Dean. The race committee had looked at the time and wind and called a shortened course at the gybe mark.
The boats spread out and the final order seemed predetermined. Orlando and Sue did indeed lock their lead into yet another first. However, with 50m to go Warren started charging up on the Hoggs, undoubtedly due to fortuitous gusts. (It couldn't have been precision sail trimming by the Warren/Brad Machine.) John went defensive and took him up. Warren inexorably rolled on and over, finishing ahead of the Hoggs. Meanwhile Dean blessed this manna from heaven and slid in a hair behind Warren and slightly ahead of the Hoggs.
Ted finished close behind, followed by Bill and Angus. (It was great to see Daffodil out!)
Meanwhile, the other end of the fleet had its share of excitement. John Douglas, Mark (in a Laser) and Gen Hogg were in a parade. Then John fell into a hole and pulled the parking brake. Mark pulled past John and Gen pulled past the pair in an inversion of her father's finishing strategy. As soon as the other boats had passed John located his misplaced wind and proceeded to the line.
There were doubtless other tales on the water, but when I asked my Race #2 source about other dramatic changes in place, the response was:
"I wasn't paying close attention."
A true sailor's answer.
Thanks to everyone who makes our racing possible
Race Results #6 (6.8.23)
Sharon Vance and Mary Ann Hand, Race Committee
39.49 Orlando Gledhill and Sue Tovee
42.16 Warren Hall and Brad Dibble
42.20 Dean MacMurtry and Christie
42.30 John and Laura Hogg
42.54 Ted and Stephanie Johnson
44.55 Bill Lobb and Mark Tovee
51.17 Angus and Andrew Laurie
52.15 Genny Hogg and Autumn
52.17* Mark Beadle
52.20 John Douglas and Brent Holden
65.10** Edward Gledhill and Anna Wong
*Laser - with adjusted time, places in 8th
*RS Feva - with adjusted time, places in 11th
Current standings: 6 races down with 4 to go
Dean MacMurtry, VC & PSYC Scorekeeper
Hall (10)
Hogg, J (17)
MacMurtry (23)
Gledhill, O (28)
Johnson (32)
Lobb (37)
Beadle (43)
Gledhill, E (48)
Douglas (51)
Hogg, G (52)
10. Morgan (52)
12. Laurie (53)
A photo of the old PSYC junior fleet, from Sue Tovee (Commodore Emeritus)
Other photos in this issue are courtesy of Nancy Laurie.
Thanks for reading!