Eager to solidify It’s position as being amongst Australia’s premier tertiary institutions the University of Western Australia is embarking upon a new International Sailing program with the purchase in 2009 of a Foundation 36 “UWA Centennial”.
Foundation 36 yachts are a regular feature of sailing on the Swan River be it privateer racing, match racing or corporate chartering. The WA Yachting Foundation presently owns 10 F.36’s. Skip Lissiman of the WAYF says that the F.36 has become such a great yacht for the Swan River due to it’s versatility, performance and open cockpit decks that make for great day cruising or racing, “if you can’t clean it with a fire hose then there’s too much crap on it”.
The Americas Cup is out of the courts and onto the water (for now). Scheduled start time is Monday 10am Valencia time, which my understanding is 5pm local time. Up until yesterday Fox Sports did not have the match scheduled, however it appears this morning they are now programing it on Fox 3 starting at 4pm local time. Was it that every pub we called in Perth yesterday looking for Eurosport then went and called Foxtel asking why they didnt have it??
We are hosting Freodoctor Americas Cup partys to watch the racing on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Location is the Seaview Pub (fremantle) rear bar. All welcome, but we'd appreciate you letting me know how many are coming by responding in the forums
In a series that kept everyone guessing, sailors and spectators alike, William Tiller from Auckland’s Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, won the Warren Jones International Youth Regatta from club and former crew mate Phil Robertson.
The final, sailed on the Swan River’s Freshwater Bay went to the full five races, with a protest holding up the result even when both boats had crossed the finishing line.
“It’s awesome to step up into the skippering position and take it on and do so well,” said a still slightly bewildered Tiller at the end of the day. “We love the boats, they are awesome match racing boats, the competition has been great, we’ve been pushed all the way.”
Check out the latest from the Laser lads, huge fun. Perhaps it is time for the FD community to start keeping track of the records for this increasingly popular run?
Two top yachtsmen from New Zealand will ramp up the standard of ocean racing in WA when the State’s best yachts contest the Geographe Bay Race Week starting in Busselton on 20th February.
Kiwi design consultant and sailmaker, Rod Keenan, will be returning to Perth to continue his partnership with Frank Saraceni aboard Al Fresco. The all carbon Bakewell-White flyer won line honours in last year’s Geraldton Ocean Classic and Saraceni attributed the boat’s victory to Keenan’s extraordinary downwind sailing skill. The little boat logged a staggering 28.2 knots in one frantic burst in that race.
Butch Williamson and Dave Walling will sail the current Geographe Bay titleholder The Next Factor, with sailmaker Paul Eldrid as principal helmsman, again joined by New Zealander Simon Minoprio. Minoprio, the brother of world match racing champion Adam, was another who flew to Perth for the Geraldton race last year.
From Sydney, expatriate West Australian Cameron Percival returns to his old stamping ground to sail on the Farr 47 Sled, skippered by Tony Mitchell. Percival has been an integral part of Alan Brierty’s team on Limit, the only WA yacht campaigning regularly on the east coast.
William Tiller of Auckland’s Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, heads the leaderboard at the end of the shortened round robin section of the Warren Jones International Youth Regatta, so gets the privilege of choosing his opponent in the semi-finals.
It will be a tough call, as the other three qualifiers would all make formidable opponents. Phil Robertson is from the same Auckland club, and used to be Tiller’s skipper, David Gilmour of the host club is a firey newcomer who has nothing to lose, while Peter Nicholas is the big improver of the series, getting better every day.
The Warren Jones is the testing grounds for young sailors who look as though they will go on. It is being held over at Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club this week.
Tuesday was blowing a base figure of 25 knots with gusts above 30 knots. Quite wisely the organisers had put reefs in and taken the headsails back to jibs, not genoas. BUT they were allowing spinnakers.
And thereby hangs the tail to this story.
The helmsman is a Mr Boiden and if you look at the young fellow on the spinnaker sheets, just before the broach. he was looking distinctly worried. For good reason.
The 2010 Warren Jones Regatta is on at Freshwater Bay Yacht Club. You can tune into the commentary by Andy Feathers and Kane Williamson via radio streamed from warrenjonesregatta.org.au or locally on 106.5FM. I'm also doing live updates in the Warren Jones forum so any comments etc then wack them there.
Yachting Australia has announced a 50% discount on IRC fees from 1st March 2010 to the end of the Southern hemisphere IRC year on 31st May.
The discounted prices (excluding GST) will be:
· Revalidations - $13.75/m
· New Applications - $14.25/m
· Amendments - $5.25/m
· Trials - $6.75/m
· Re-registrations (change of ownership) - $6.75/m
Measuring fees in addition to the above may apply.
Please note, this offer is applicable to 2009 certificates only, and does not include 2010 revalidations.
For further information for Western Australian boats, please contact Ian Ball on 0412 159 648 or
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