Sitting on the balcony at East Freo is a darn sight more comfortable than sitting on the umpire’s boat. bouncing around in the slop created by a myriad of pleasure craft, trying to focus a recalcitrant lens on a bunch of sports boats making merry hell on the water.

Standard for the event, 3 races an hour apart 3 laps a piece and this time 18 boats joining up. Everything from the Vipers to Elliot 7's with VX ones and a couple of Melges 24. Season it up with perennial visitor Excitabull from Princess Royal and club fav, Turkish Delight a Farr 25OD. Add an old competitor Guy Skinner on a Thompson 750 and Dave Davenport/Ken Stevenson with a big Bethwaite 89r . Bloody big boat that Bethwaite!

With a moderate sou wester with a base of 15 knots it wasn't too bad, but the bottom of the course was covered in gusts coming through and you could see the boats working their way down the course searching for the right gust to take them to the next mark. Of course, you don't get it all for free and the capriciousness of the breeze was enough to upset the plans of a number of helms as they tried to hit the top mark on a ley line that was too tight. If you want to know, ask the owner of 'Tiger' an Elliot 7 from Nedlands who had a bad day in the second race.

The first race found the Bethwaite and her new skipper and crew wanting as they fought to keep the powerful beast under control and they were seen making their way home after the first race as it’s possible that they may have broken something on the boat. Of course, Turnham Green managed to run over his spinnaker, right in front of the club and while the groans from the large contingent of SoPYC sailors gathered for the day, were probably heard on the water, they continued on for the second race, but didn't hoist a rag thereafter. They retired after the second race.

The VX Ones were a new entry, similar to the Vipers and quite powerful little skiffs with some good skippers running them, but they and the Vipers were having difficulties in controlling their beasts, particularly down the bottom where the wild gusts dwell. Only the old and the wise survived. No names, but one of the Melges had to retire with one of their crew suffering lacerations to his scalp, he's ok, but it acknowledges the need to keep your head down on a wild gybe.

The prince of the afternoon was the crowd fav... Turkish Delight and much to the balconies pleasure, veteran Bruce Wilkinson placed highly in all the races. Otherwise, they had the boat sailing well and fast with very few mistakes made, even down the bottom mark where it was on for young and old. He's been sailing this section of the reach now for decades, if he doesn't know what's happening, no one does. A worthy overall winner.

I'd had the chance to bump into Travis from RP who had a couple of Elliot 7's in the game and given the talent on the boats, they made it hot work for the two private Elliots, Tiger and Akayia.

Apart from the hurly burly on the water, its great to see that John Park driving a Viper Steele de Breeze picked up an equal 6th place against the Neddies Elliot 7 Tiger. No mean feat.

1st Turkish Delight, 2nd Rhythm, 3rd Excitabull with a pair of fourths RPYC 5 and RPYC 6 (Elliots 7’s) and a pair of 6ths Steele de Breeze and another Elliot 7 Tiger.

The East Fremantle YC should be congratulated for their continuing event and the presentation of the racing right in front of the balconies. Many thanks to Helen Suriano of East Freo for her help in getting the results up.


Rick Steuart

From the Balcony at East Fremantle.


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