Ray Smith takes out a Second S80 Legends Race

Wednesday 3rd April saw RPYC host another S80 Association Legends race with 12 boats and crews from Royal Perth and South Perth yacht clubs hitting the water. The S80 Legends event aims to connect current sailors with past S80 sailors and fleet legends and celebrate the class. The aim of the S80 Legends event is to connect current sailors with past S80 sailors and fleet legends, and celebrate the class. Our club S80’s that competed with their skippers (owners) were:

Abby Road Mark Robbins (James Barton)
Fair Game John Hassen (Sue Game)
Hobo Con Macarlino (Mark Abercromby)

Glasgow Kiss Jonh Holder (Greg Tonnison)
Don’t Panic !! Brad Sheridan (Mat Selby)
Shadowfax Geoff Bishop (Jim Mark Gooding)

Wednesday saw a light and shifting breeze laying the foundation for a competitive race. The event kicked off with a luncheon in the Catalina bar where everyone got a chance to catch up with old friends and have a beer before getting out on the water, in true legend fashion.

Past S80 Gary Griffiths great gave us an entertaining speech on the background and history of the S80 class and the colourful characters of past years.

The mid-river start saw the fleet get away in a tight start. Brad Sheridan on Dont Panic (fresh from a win in the FF15 States Championship over Easter) and Ray Smith on Frakka picked their way through the snakes and ladders best on the first beat. The rest of the fleet were left to tussle with each other to get around Como. Then a long downwind leg to Armstrong saw Shadowfax helmed by Geoff Bishop break away from the main group and close in on the leaders.

The leading bunch rounded Armstrong close together and headed back up river to Foam. Brad Sheridan made a big call to head across the river to the Applecross foreshore which initially looked bleak but ultimately was a master stoke as the breeze filled in along shoreline. Don’t Panic rounded well clear of the fleet at Foam buoy – but was to find a few more pit holes ahead!

The tussle continued between the leading boats down to Dolphin West and back up to the RPYC Day Buoy where the race was shortened. Ray Smith on Frakka (who should have been swabbed for having too many rockstar sailors on board) gained ground on Don’t Panic in the light and patchy wind heading into the Matilda Bay finish. A tacking battle started between the two leaders and ultimately the on-water umpire Richard Goldsmith held sway by awarding a penalty against Don’t Panic for an indiscretion. Ray Smith got to the finish to take line honours and the trophy for a second time, with Brad Sheridan having to settle for second spot.

Mark Robbins on Abby Road (another two-time winner and #1 genoa borrower) held third with Geoff Bishop on Shadowfax a close fourth finishing in a light sea breeze. Grant Alderson (a past FF15 world champion) on Rebel finished fifth having been with the leading boats all race. The next group crossed the line a while later having got stuck between the easterly and the sea breeze on the last leg, and included Phil Slee on Fusion, Les Marshall on The Fifth Element, Steve Hartley on Rum Runner, and John Hassen (another past Legends winner) on Fair Game.

Overall, the S80 Association Legends Race was a terrific event that brought together past sailors and “legends” of the S80 fleet for a chance to catch up with old friends and enjoy a race on the beautiful Swan River.