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2009 – November

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2009 – November

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The Balmain Regatta... 

Sunday the 25th was a wet and wild day for the Balmain Regatta that took place on Sydney Harbour.

Two square metre yachts attended the event. I was fortunate to be crewing on Fagel Grip. The other yacht attending was Scarlet O’hara.

Preparation for the start went smoothly due to the well organized setup of Fagel Grip

Two people sail a classic sailing yacht under cloudy skies; one in a red jacket looks ahead whilst the other adjusts the sail. City buildings and other boats are visible in the background, evoking the timeless charm of Square Metre Yachts.

Not long after the start the heavy rains hit. I didn’t get a shot of Scarlett O’Hara as she started before us in another division. I did notice Scarlett O’Hara has changed her hull colour to a very suitable dark red. Struggling to keep the camera dry, I did manage to get this nice photo as we overtook a Dragon and a 6mtr yacht.

Several Classic Sailing Yachts with white sails race on a choppy, grey body of water in rainy, overcast weather. The scene appears misty, and people onboard are wearing rain gear. Buildings and trees are faintly visible in the background.
View from a sailboat deck on a cloudy day, showing the wet wooden surface, rigging, and Schärenkreuzer sailing ahead on a wide river or harbour, with land and a bridge visible in the distance.

The rain died later in the race and so did the wind as we headed to the harbour bridge end of the course.

View from a boat on a cloudy day, showing a wide river or bay with Classic Sailing Yachts and ferries in the distance near a tree-lined shore.

The skipper Jerry had to work hard to find the areas of lift as we battled two other yachts which due to the wind shifts all shared the lead at different stages of the race.

Not quite the type of wet ride I was expecting but very enjoyable all the same as we crossed the line in light winds with a respectable second place and I would like to thank Jerry and his crew for a great day out. I look forward to the day when I will get to sail my yacht with Fagel Grip in the near future. The RANSA regatta in Febuary will be the next event where we can sail with a group of metre yachts.

Two people in rain jackets are sailing a Skerry Cruiser on a cloudy day. One person is steering whilst the other sits behind, both appearing focused as they navigate the water.

The Swan River Retro Yacht Series...

A 20 knot Easterly welcomed the starters for the inaugural Swan River Retro Yacht Series based in Western Australia..

The classic yachts were a delight to watch as they crossed the mid-river start line at 10:00 in the morning in a warm 20 knot easterly Sunday 25 October 2009.

Then two hours of racing, over the 10 nm course, from Melville Water to Mosman, around Karrakatta Bank to the finish line at RFBYC.

Sunday racing offers several advantages: Primarily, an uncrowded Swan River allowing crew to trim to best speed plus the opportunity for spectators to more easily follow a single yacht race on the Swan.

A classic sailing yacht with three people on board glides over blue water on a sunny day, surrounded by several other Square Metre Yachts under a clear blue sky.
View of the damaged inside keel and ribs of an old wooden Square Metre Yacht, showing cracks and missing pieces in the hull structure, with worn paint and rust visible on the wood and metal parts.

Bacchante RF 1939 (30SQM) crossed the finish line to be first and fastest. Gelasma RF 71 with all her charm sailed to third place with second going to The Lady in Red
R 33 (30SQM).

The wind held high throughout the race giving Bella Gioia RF 202 (SWAN 42) a good work out with the colourful Bicton Bell EF 3 (GAFF RIGG) creating steady white water
on the final leg.

The results were announced and prizes awarded at the skipper and crew gathering on the top lawn of the Clubhouse followed by a scrumptious lunch and some serious exchange of tactics.

The next Retro Race is scheduled for a 13:30 mid-river start on Sunday, 29 November 2009.

The invitation is open to all classic Swan River yachts, in all Clubs, to register for the Retro series and enjoy Sunday sailing at its best.

Around The Yards...

This month we take a few more planks of Benchmark and check out a few home improvements for Wings.

A man wearing gloves and sunglasses applies a finish to a long wooden board in a workshop, evoking the craftsmanship behind Schärenkreuzer, whilst another person works in the background amid scattered tools and materials.

Carl puts the finishing touches to the planking by sealing the inside surface.

A wooden boat, resembling classic Schärenkreuzer or Square Metre Yachts, is under repair with new planks being clamped to its exposed ribs. Various tools and wooden blocks are scattered nearby amidst the restoration work.

Just one more clamp outta do it..

Several large metal cramps hold wooden boards together, water droplets visible on the wood and cramps, suggesting a wet environment or glue drying—likely part of restoring Classic Sailing Yachts or maintaining elegant Square Metre Yachts.

A few more planks are glued and fastened into place.

Partially restored wooden boat hull with exposed ribs and framework, showing ongoing repair work in a workshop setting. Tools and clamps are visible in the background, typical of classic sailing yachts restoration projects.

with the garbord planks fitted its time to inspect above the water line and the bilge area.

A wooden sailboat, reminiscent of Classic Sailing Yachts and Skerry Cruisers, is propped up on supports inside a workshop, surrounded by tools and ladders—clear signs that it’s undergoing careful restoration or repairs.

Planking is finished as they prepare her for paint.

Next month on the story of Benchmark we see the changes above deck and the paint goes on.
 
The restoration of Wings.

Wings has had a few home made improvements.

A wooden wine rack shaped like the bow of a Square Metre Yacht sits on a wooden table outdoors, with four wine bottle holders resembling winches and potted plants in the background.

2 tunnel which mounts were made to relocate the sheet winches from the cabin top too alongside the cockpit coamings.

A close-up view of the inside edge of a small Skerry Cruiser, showing a white strip with circular markings, some rope, and wooden seats next to water.

2 new 3mtr long genoa car tracks were machined up on a table router and teak tow rails are shaped and attached.

A partially repaired wooden boat interior with white framing, a power sander, and a clamp resting on wooden boards. Some tools and a partially detached plywood sheet are also visible—classic details reminiscent of Skerry Cruisers.

The new sole is laminated and cut to fit the floors..
 
Next month we see a new cabin top laid and the paint brush put to good use.

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