WW Summer Series 2014-15 Race 13 (7 Jan 2015)

No. 13: Lucky for Some
Wednesday Wonders Race 13 Summer Series 2014-15
7 January 2015
Few would have anticipated the direction the weather would take before the start of race 13.
The selection of the 8.8 nautical mile course 31 seemed ambitious but the average sail time of
the race was the fastest for the series. The forecast for Port Philip was (in part) “Northeasterly
below 10 knots tending northerly 10 to 15 knots in the morning then becoming east to
northeasterly about 10 knots in the middle of the day with local afternoon seabreezes
developing.”
Crew from at least one yacht was able to enjoy a swim in hot and humid conditions before the
race, whilst early starters struggled to find enough breeze to deliver them to the start line.
Observations at Fawkner Beacon showed a breeze of about 4 knots at the start with a rapid
increase somewhere between 1400 and 1430. The increase in breeze was probably a bit earlier
in shore and was signaled by DÉJÀ VU (Peter Dransfield) when she was the first yacht to start
within 17 seconds of her handicap. The average start time for the first 13 starters exceeded 7
minutes. Nevertheless, there were ominous signs of a change in conditions with thundery
clouds to the east, west and north of the bay. The City of Melbourne recorded 19 mm of rain
during the afternoon but the 26-yacht fleet escaped a soaking. The surrounding storms were
probably responsible for generating some occasional extra breeze-testing out sails and rinsing
the toe rails with seawater.
wind speed (knots)
25
20
15
10
5
0
1300 1330 1400
1430 1500 1530 1600 1630
1700 1730
Wind Speed
3
4
4
13
15
19
16
20
14
13
Gusts
7
5
6
16
18
23
19
23
16
15
180
180
0
0
22.5
22.5
22.5
22.5
22.5
22.5
Direction
time
360
315
270
225
180
135
90
45
0
Direction (degrees)
WW Summer Series 2014-15
Race 13 Wind Speed & Direction
A pair of keen eyes will be able to see the silhouette of city buildings through the rain and cloud
in the picture below.
It was WICKED (Mike Welsh) who 4 seconds late won Start of the
Day, just one second ahead of LEBROK (Theo Korbel) and
BARNSTORMER (Brian Barnes). 15 of the 26 starters were more
than a minute late for their handicaps setting a record for the slowest
start of the series.
The average starting time for the first ten yachts was 7mins 61sec
The average time for the ten last starting yachts was 34 seconds
WW Summer Series 2014-15
Race 13 Start of the Day
time (seconds)
0
WICKED
4
LEBROK
5
BARNSTORMER
5
ESPRIT
8
DEJA VU
17
ALIBI
19
STAMPEDE
20
FUN AND GAMES
21
WHITE NOISE
y
a
c
h
t
200
FIREFOX
MAGIC
67
LUCILLE
83
MOANA
88
208
BRIGITTE
212
SURI
219
WILLARIE
CAVALIER
PIPPA
MIDNIGHT MAGIC
1200
178
SALT WHISTLE
CASSANDRA MELBOURNE
1000
58
67
FOGGY DEW
800
44
FORZADO
SALTSHAKER
600
32
TRUE COLOURS
JOHNNY B. GOODE
400
336
479
556
703
787
900
1048
DÉJÀ VU (Peter Dransfield) had a very convincing win for her
first podium finish of the series, winning the race by 4 minutes 53
seconds. She started 17 seconds late for her 27 minute
handicap and had amassed a long lead of 5 minutes 37 seconds
at the first rounding of number 4. She had sailed the first 4 legs
of the course in 1:07:44 and went on to sail the remaining 3 legs
in 27 minutes 36 seconds to cross the finish line at 15:32:20.
DÉJÀ VU has completed 9 races this series and is in 32nd place
in the aggregate on 119 points.
DÉJÀ VU only sails the WW Summer Series with Peter choosing
to train on the inland waterways of France during the southern
winter. Sheer luxury.
Having sailed 12 of the 13 races ESPRIT (Garry Anderson),
picked up her 3rd podium finish of the series in race 13, when
she crossed the finish line at 15:37:13. ESPRIT started from
24th place 8 seconds late for her 49 minute handicap. After
sailing the first 4 legs of the race in 55 minutes 7 seconds
ESPRIT had moved into 6th place and completed the course in
the 2nd fastest time of the day at 1:18:13. She is 9th in the
aggregate only half a point behind BARNSTORMER (Brian
Barnes) and 20 points behind the leader
The last yacht to start race 13 was STAMPEDE (Christopher
Glendala) 20 seconds late for her 51 minute handicap. After
sailing the course in the fastest time of the day (1:16:28) she
recorded her 2nd podium finish of the series. By the first
rounding of number 4 she had moved into 6th place and
improved her position by a further 3 places in the last 3 legs
to finish 3rd at 15:37:28. STAMPEDE has completed 10 races
and is 16th in the aggregate with a total of 77 points.
A fleet of 26 yachts started the race with 24 finishers. Fiftyone minutes separated the fleet at the start and this reduced
to 35 minutes 17 seconds at the first rounding of number 4
but the gap had increased to 49 minutes 15 seconds at race
end. Five yachts had completed the course by the time the
last yacht rounded number 4 for the first time.
WW Summer Series 2014-15
Race 13 Results
02:52:48
02:24:00
01:55:12
01:26:24
00:57:36
Handicap
PIPPA
WILLARIE
CAVALIER
FOGGY DEW
WHITE NOISE
CASSANDRA MELBOURNE
yacht
SALTSHAKER
JOHNNY B. GOODE
BRIGITTE
MAGIC
FORZADO
FIREFOX
LUCILLE
MOANA
FUN AND GAMES
BARNSTORMER
SURI
SALT WHISTLE
ALIBI
WICKED
STAMPEDE
TRUE COLOURS
00:00:00
ESPRIT
00:28:48
DEJA VU
time(hh:mm:ss)
03:21:36
Sail Time
None of the 8 early starters were amongst the early finishers, which comprised 5 late starters
and 3 mid fleet starters.
STAMPEDE
WICKED
ESPRIT
BARNSTORMER
LEBROK
ALIBI
LUCILLE
WHITE NOISE
FORZADO
FUN AND GAMES
FIREFOX
TRUE COLOURS
MAGIC
CAVALIER
SALT WHISTLE
DEJA VU
SALTSHAKER
SURI
CASSANDRA MELBOURNE
FOGGY DEW
JOHNNY B. GOODE
MIDNIGHT MAGIC
BRIGITTE
MOANA
PIPPA
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
WILLARIE
position
WW Summer Series 2014-15
Race 13 Position at Start, Nos 4 & Finish
yacht
Start
Nos 4
Finish
The average sail time for the race was 1:49:52 with a difference of 1:35:27 between the fastest
and the slowest. STAMPEDE recorded the fastest time with ESPRIT second and WICKED third.
WW Summer Series 2014-15
Race 13 Sail Time
time (hh:mm:ss)
00:00:00
00:28:48
00:57:36
01:55:12
02:24:00
02:52:48
03:21:36
01:16:28
01:18:13
STAMPEDE
ESPRIT
01:19:35
01:24:30
WICKED
ALIBI
01:24:50
01:34:20
01:35:20
BARNSTORMER
FUN AND GAMES
DEJA VU
01:35:56
01:40:31
01:41:55
LUCILLE
y
a
c
h
t
01:26:24
TRUE COLOURS
WHITE NOISE
01:46:04
01:46:27
FIREFOX
FORZADO
01:47:26
01:48:05
01:49:46
SALT WHISTLE
MAGIC
SURI
01:56:23
01:58:03
01:59:05
JOHNNY B. GOODE
MOANA
SALTSHAKER
02:01:11
02:03:57
BRIGITTE
FOGGY DEW
02:07:58
02:27:38
02:41:35
CASSANDRA MELBOURNE
CAVALIER
WILLARIE
02:51:35
PIPPA
BARNSTORMER and ESPRIT entered the aggregate top ten after race 13 replacing WHITE
NOISE (Daniel Edwards) and SALTSHAKER (Ken Gayler).
AGGREGATE TOP TEN RACE 13
YACHT
POSITION RACE
POINTS
12
13
LEBROK
1
1
40.5
ALIBI
6
2
48
THE SECRETARY
2
3
49
MORE NOISE
3
4
52
WIND SPEED
5
5
53
BELLE
4
6
54
INSX
7
7
55.5
BARNSTORMER
12
8
60
ESPRIT
14
9
60.5
MAGIC
9
10
63
The theory of pursuit racing is to start yachts at different times so they finish at the same time.
This seldom if ever works in practice and it is unusual for any two yachts to finish at the same
time. So far this series the finish time difference between the first and last yacht has been less
than the start time difference.
It has come close on 2 occasions, when in race 2, yachts started 46 minutes apart and finished
41 minutes 24 seconds apart. Again in race 13 yachts started 51 minutes apart and finished 49
minutes 15 seconds apart.
There does seem to be an anomaly when looking at average time differences. It appears that
the fleet come together at the first rounding of number 4 were the average time difference is 22
minutes 2 seconds but then separate to finish on average 27 minutes apart.
WW summer Series 2014-15 Time Difference at
Start, Nos 4 & Finish
01:04:48
time (hh:mm:ss)
00:57:36
00:50:24
00:43:12
00:36:00
00:28:48
00:21:36
00:14:24
00:07:12
00:00:00
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
race number
Start
Nos 4
Finish
Out of the top ten placed yachts, these improved their series score from this race:
Sm178 Alibi 5th, Sm424 Barnstormer 9th Sm477 Esprit 2nd
Yachts that had their best finish for the series in this race were Sm370 Déjà Vu 1st,
Sm444 True Colours 4th, Sm628 Lucille 12th and Sm 3411 Brigitte 16th.
Some Wednesday Wonder sailors do not realize that Mark and Windward Buoy have contacts
all over the world. Mr Dransfield thought he could pretend that during the winter he was just
put-putting around France in a canal boat like Mole and Ratty. The photo below however
provides evidence of the ‘Winter training’ he undertakes in France, particularly in light winds.
This combined with his many years of experience on the end of a tiller explains his magical
touch to win Race 13 so convincingly.
The Handicappers Knowledge Test.
Many of you are familiar with the London’s Knowledge Test for taxi drivers. The WWY
Federation has devised a simple test for yachting Handicappers. You are invited to undertake
this test and submit your responses for evaluation to Mark WIndward who will pass them on
to the WWY Federation.
This test will be in two parts spread over the next two week to allow sufficient time to respond.
PART A Knowledge Test
IF YOU WERE THE HANDICAPPER how would you react to the following?
1. If the leading yacht of the series pulls out of a race, do you:
a) Suspect they might be trying to protect their current handicap.
b) Think they just ran out of drinkable fluids on a hot day.
c) Think the crew are worried they might damage the new sails while the skipper is away.
2. The wind drops just as the race is about to start, do you:
a) Just let the race continue
b) Postpone the race until the wind comes in.
c) Use the opportunity to test the skipper’s understanding of postponed race flags.
d) Postpone the race and listen to what Brighton decide to do.
3. As the fleet has increased and the club has increased its revenue substantially, do you:
a) Recommend a reduction of the race entry fees
b) Increase the number of prizes so that the probability of yachts winning a prize is
comparable to other racing fleets at SYC.
c) Suggest that a few new buoys be laid to provide more course options.
4. Rounding at marks with a mix of yachts is becoming very congested and risky. Do you:
a) Suggest additional marks be placed to give an inner and outer mark for yachts of
different sizes (as is done in the Sydney Hobart race outside the Heads).
b) Video the rounding of marks at frequent times to replay in the bar after the race.
c) Have one of the International Judges observe the yachts activities at critical points and
use a yellow and red ‘card’ system like in soccer.
5. When light winds are forecast you are aware of yachts unloading a large quantity of sailing
gear onto the walkway, do you:
a) Adjust their handicap to compensate for their lighter weight.
b) Inform the skipper that the club is concerned about the extra weight and stress being
placed on the marina walkway.
c) Impose a time limit that yachts have for race preparation, as in some national titles.
6. To be well informed, or to call on for advice, can you answer the following:
a) Name the last four handicappers
b) Name the Club Sailing Captain
c) Name the current and past 3 Commodores
d) Name the past winners of the WW Series.
7. To ensure the finishing times between the first and last yachts are close. Do you:
a) Ignore requests from yachts wanting a better handicap by pointing out that in the "cock of
the bay" they were one of the fastest yachts.
b) Go to a clairvoyant to get better wind predictions that will enable you to forecast the wind
better than the BOM.
c) Consider results of the whole season across a range of conditions not just one race.
d) Keep on doing a great job that is evidenced by the number of yachts that register and
turn up every Wednesday.
Bonus Question & Answer RACE12
What ships would feature on a suitable Christmas present that you could not collect until the
17th February 2015 and would be enjoyed particularly by someone who collects stamps?
D Y O Find the answer: Visit Australia post
Answer: Postage stamps of the “Era of Sail” will be issued on the 17th February 2015.
The Clipper ships featured will be the Frances Henty 70¢, the Phoenician 70¢, the Arabian
$1.40, and the Monkchester $1.40. The Red Jacket is used on the Stamp Bulletin cover (not
as a stamp) Reference: Stamp Bulletin No 332 January- February 2015
Race 12 Questions & Answers
Question 12A - two correct responses. Visit for extra information Admella
In her time she was one of the fastest and most luxurious ships on the Australian intercolonial
trade routes. On the regular Adelaide – Melbourne run her fastest voyage had once been made
in 42 hours. She was wrecked off Cape Banks.
The rescue attempts were plagued by problems. The lighthouse was without telegraph and so
the lighthouse keeper, Ben Germen, set off to ride 10 miles (16 km)[2] to Mount Gambier to
telegraph authorities in Adelaide 240 nautical miles (450 km) northwest and Portland 54 nautical
miles (100 km) east. Corio left from Adelaide and Ladybird from Portland but, due to poor
information, both rescue boats had difficulty locating the now desperate Admella.
Meanwhile the wreck was battered by the heavy swell. Captain McEwan shared out what little
food remained and had to prevent survivors from drinking salt water, which had begun to take
the lives of those who drank it. Others, exhausted by their ordeal, simply slipped into the sea to
their death. In the words of one lifeboat captain they were:
“ more like statues than human beings; their eyes fixed, their lips black, for want of water,
and their limbs bleached white and swollen through exposure to the relentless surf.
Question 12B Two correct responses. Visit for extra information RMS Quetta
Captain Tom replied
These two did require a bit of digging. I think 12A is SS ADMELLA - wrecked off Cape Banks
and 12 B is RMS QUETTA - hit a rock near Thursday Island whist under Pilotage .
PS Stan is indeed the Captain - but a pretty nice one. Cheers -- Tom (deck slave - MOANA)
Prof Algie agreed 12 A. The said ship was the SS Admella in 1859. It was the greatest loss of
life in South Australia's settlement history. The second ship was Corio and the lighthouse was
built in 1881.
12 B. This one was the RMS Quetta in 1890. The memorial is the church on Thursday Island,
which I have visited on numerous occasions
RMS Quetta on the Thames near Gravesend
The Queensland Government negotiated to have a service between the United Kingdom and
Brisbane, to ease the passage of people and mail. Quetta was specifically built for the Australia
run, with refrigeration capacity for the frozen meat trade. The ship was launched in March 1881
and made her first voyage to Brisbane in 1883. The designation RMS indicated the ship's role
within the Queensland Royal Mail Line. Her sister ships were Manora and Merkara.
The RMS Quetta
Nearly a century later a different Corio and much larger was wrecked on the same reef and
sank, but all aboard were rescued. This Corio was a Steel steamship, freighter, 3346 tons. Built
Newcastle, NSW, 1919. Led 331 x 41.9 x 23.6 ft. Huddart Parker. Ran on to Carpenter's Reef
only a short distance from where the Admella had been lost eighty years earlier, 26 February
1951. She was only little more than a quarter of a mile offshore, but nothing could be done to
save her; eventually broke her back, becoming a total wreck. The Iron Yampi took off her crew.
Question for Race 13: What ship is this?
The photo of this weeks “name the ship” was taken over 100 years ago at Williamstown while
being repaired. It is not an Australian ship. She was fully rigged with auxiliary steam power.
She was built on the river Clyde and designed as a British commercial transport vessel. Her
use of the Williamstown port facilities led to an International Court case that resulted in a
payment of £820,000 being made.
Send your answer to Mark WIndward
Thanks to the bigger yachts that were hanging around as chaperones at the end of the race to
help the smaller yachts if needed. I think that’s what they were doing, and not just emptying
glasses they did not have time to drink.
Sometimes the view from the Clubhouse makes you feel it may be better off the water.
The water may not be as flat for this Wednesday’s race.
Why is it you can Ship by truck and yet you send cargo by ship?
Thanks to all the contributors for this report and particularly to the Photo shop of Windward
Buoy.
Send any photos , answers, comments, rumours, factual stories etc to Mark WIndward
and keep an eye on the forecast for this Wednesday.