A fleet of nine J/70’s joined RSYS last weekend for the Ice Breaker Regatta.  Starts were scheduled for 9am to capture the best of the winter westerlies.

Saturday there were three races and it was a day for eyes out of the boat and patience.  Pressure was up and down between 4 to 8 knots, and the direction was swinging from SSW to SW.  It was a game of snakes & ladders as leading around the top mark did not guarantee holding that position at the bottom.

Tim Ryan’s Vamos won the first two races but carrying an 8^th in the 3^rd race dropped him into second place on the day.  Sam Haynes Celestial won the day with a 3, 3, 1.  Reg Lord helming Juno finished the day third overall with a 2, 5, 3.

Rod Warren’s Joust 70 really was the team of the day.  After driving up from Melbourne launching and rigging on Friday.  Saturday morning hoisting the jib they were having trouble with the furling block at the top of the mast.  They dropped the rig, thought they had it fixed only to lose a connecting pin on the way to the start line.  Fortunately a quick reallocation of a halyard kept the mast up.  They missed the first race but came back for a 2 & a 4 in races two and three.

The start for the final race of the delay was delayed while the U.S. Navy Expeditionary Sea Base (ESB) ship USS Miguel Keith (ESB 5) took over the race course area preparing to dock at Garden Island.

Sunday morning the 15-20 knot southerly forecast had not eventuated.  Racing was delayed until RSYS Race Officer Ian Kingsford Smith was satisfied he could get a fair race away.  Over the morning the breeze was again from the SSW and ranged from 6 to 16 knots.

Once again the starts were hotly contested, top mark roundings were close and you had to be on your game to hold a position out in front.

Final positions for the regatta saw Reg Lord’s Juno take the win.  Onboard with him was CYCA’s Max Brennan, Will Sargent and Paige Caldecoat.  Will and Paige were fresh from winning the SB20 World Championships that were contested in June 2023 in the Hague, Netherlands.  Max was part of the winning USA crew in the Governor’s Cup International Youth Match Racing Championship held July 25-29 in Newport Beach, CA.

Second overall was Sam Haynes’ Celestial with Sandringham Yacht Club’s Rod Warren helming Joust70 third.

A great weekend of racing, short and sharp with the fleet back at the club and able to enjoy a leisurely lunch and debate the on water challenges.  Many thanks to the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron and Race officer Ian Kingsford Smith, Coxswain/Computer: David Ross, Timing: Jim Hawkins and Flags: Phil Maloney

RESULTS