NS14 State Titles 2017-18
Day one
The day got away on time with race one at 14:05 with a fleet of only nine boats in a light southerly of 5-7 knots.
It was an even start and at the top mark Under the Radar held a small lead with Serenity, Pumpkin Eater and Arctic just astern.
The light breeze held in and freshned slightly as the race progresed with Serenity finaly getting through and holding on for the win with Under the Radar in second and Pumpkin Eater in third.
Race two was lengthened a little as the breeze had built and looked like topping 10 knots.
The race got away at 14:16 in a still southerly breeze of 7-9 knots and again the boats got off to an even start this time Under the Radar came through on the start boat end and was the only boat to break right.
By the top mark that strategy had not paid off with Serenity first aroung from Pumpkin Eater and Arctic third with Under the Radar well back.
The breeze stayed pretty much the same for the first lap but softened a little as the race wore on. Serenity held the lead all race from Pumpkin Eater and by the final lap Under the Radar had worked back into third place.
The leading three boats just got home in the tail end of the southerly while the rest of the fleet struggled as the breeze died then swang to the north then east and eventually after they had all drifted over the line came in quite fresh from the North East.
See below for results, but after two races Serenity leads with two wins from Pumpkin Eater and Under the Radar equal second with a second and third each.
Racing resumes tomorrow with a morning session starting at 10:00.
Day Two
Todays racing was spit into a morning session and an afternoon session.
The morning session got away at 10:12 in a SE breeze of 7-10 knots with an even start and the boats still quite tight at the top mark with most of the fleet quite close Serenity and Arcticslowly creating a gap to the rest of the fleet.
Serenity cleared out and ended up with a clear win from Under the Radar who was forced to fight back from a poor first windward and Arctic held off Pumpkin Eater for third.
Race two for the day got away at 11:23 in a similar breeze to race one, initially it looked like the breeze was building but as the race wore on the breeze died.
At the start Spinifex and Magic and Losswere both over the line and only Magic and Loss returned leaving Spinifex with an OCS.
This time four boats were battling it out up front Serenity, Under the Radar, Arctic, and Pumpkin Eater pretty close all race.
By race end Serenity covered Under the Radar to the finish and Pumpkin Eater got away from Arctic to finish third.
The breeze was dying as the balance of the fleet drifted home.
The boats returned to shore to return after lunch for the second race session for the day.
Race three for the day was in a SE breeze very similar to a sea breeze which had built to 10-15 knots and it looked like we were in for a great afternoons sailing.
The boats got away well with a bit more preasure and Under the Radar was first to the top mark and at one stage had a very solid lead. The breeze had some tricks up its sleeve and after the first lap began to die (again) at this stage Serenity had dropped back a few placing and was fighting hard to get back to the pointy end.
Under the Radar protected his lead and held on for a win with Serenity moving up to second and Arctic and Pumpkin Eaterdead heating for third with Arctic having to put in an extra tack to get over the line.
The balance of the fleet got home and then the breeze went from SE to E to NW back to NE then E and finally to NW.
After resetting the course race four of the day got away at 15:57 in the strongest breeze of the day a NW at 12-17 knots.
It was another even start with the boats exploring the bay looking for an edge.
Under the Radar picked it well and moved into a strong possition after rounding the weather mark first.
There were still some patchy bits of breeze and it was obvious when a gust came through with various boats taking off for a while before slowing significantly once the puff was gone.
Under the Radar held on well to take a clear win and open up the series for tomorrows last two races.
Serenity took second the keep his overall lead and Arctic was third with Ninja Pandaand Pumpkin Eater both diving for the line in another dead heat.
Tomorrow looks like it will produce a tight and close fought finish with Serenity two points clear of Under the Radar and two races to complete the series.
Racing gets away at 10:00 tomorrow.
Todays last race is subject to protest which will be heard tomorrow morning.
Day three
A cooler day today and a stronger NW breeze of around 13-17 knots and gusts into the 20s greeted the fleet as they headed out for the final two races that would decide the series and the promise of some close racing.
Race 7 got away at 10:23 with Serenitynot so serene after flipping on to port on the line and having to do turns.
The rest of the fleet got away well especially Under the Radar who lead to the top mark and had a good lead. Serenity fought back from 5th or 6th at the top mark to be third at the bottom but was never able to threaten Under the Radarwho finished first Serenity second and Spinifex third who were relishing the stronger conditions.
This set up an exciting final race with the top two boats seperated by just one point.
After a false start the fleet got away in similar conditions to race one with perhaps a touch more preasure.
After an even start the fleet split and at the top mark it was Spinifex in the lead from Pumpkin Eater then Arctic with Under the Radar next and Serenity well back.
On the two reaches Serenity passed many of the boats ahead to round the bottom mark in second following Spinifex and Under the Radar was fourth neck and neck with Pumpkin Eater. This left the final result wide open. The order remained the same up the work, at the bottom mark Spinifex was in the lead from Serenity with Under the Radar third.
Up the final work Under the Radar went up the middle and both Spinifex and Serenity went hard right. At the top mark Under the Radar was first with a gap to Spinifex and Serenity some distance back.
Under the Radar and Spinifex had a great battle down the reaching legs with Under the Radar ahead at the bottom mark from Spinifex and Serenity closing in third.
Under the Radar covered Spinifex up the final short beat to the finish to take the gun and the series.
Spinifex was second twelve seconds astern and Serenity third a furthur nine seconds behind. Arctic was next and then Pumpkin Eater.
It was a great race and well fought out by the leading three boats.
Over all it was Under the Radar Nick McElwee and Brianna McElwee first on a count back from Serenity Scott Wilkie and Gus Wilkie and only seperated by being the leader of the two boats in the final race with them tied on eight points with four firsts and two seconds each after the two drops.
Thanks to all the volunteers who gave up their weekend to make this event possible.
Photos courtesy Steve Miller
NS 14 States Final overall.pdf
Photos courtesy of Steve Miller
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