Latest News

Steven London writes, 'The crew of Oisín "OSH-ee" love the wonderful punctuation mark that RSYS Friday twilights provide at the end of the week, often with a beautiful sunset by the end, and this was no exception.

As we approached the starting area, we could see grey clouds rolling over Double Bay, and a few 18 knot gusts continued to come over to Kirribilli. Out came the jackets. We made an early decision to start with the number 1 reef, and the number 3 headsail on our Beneteau First 34.7.This proved to be a good call, and by the time we were on the start line there was light rain and the wind was gusting 20 knots. (We saw some yachts ahead of us broaching in the gusts with a full main.)

I had considered it might be a broad reach to the first mark (with the wind originally out of the south), but as the wind shifted toward the south-east, it became a close hauled beat. We managed to stay high of most of the fleet, with one tack in toward Elizabeth Bay before we were on the lay line, so we approached the first mark on starboard tack near Clark Island.

After the rounding, the wind was easing to 10-15. We approached the clear water mark off Bradley’s Head and took out the reef from the main, continuing the reach along the middle of the western channel, taking advantage of better breeze that was out further from the western shoreline, and on to Obelisk Bay.

We made good gains (and no mistakes!) on the first two legs, and were first to the mark rounding followed by a very short beat toward Sow and Pigs. We then tacked early to avoid the Manly Ferry and were near the western wedding cake as we made a b-line for Shark Island down the center. The early tack allowed us to avoid the large fleet of RANSA and SASC yachts on the eastern side of the Harbour. By this time the sun was shining and the wind had dropped a little more.

As we were nearing Shark Island, the eastern fleet was bearing down on us but we managed to keep clear, so after a short starboard in to Rose Bay, we were able to round the mark without any complications and were on the home leg with a picture perfect Sydney Sunset, and the finish in our sights.

It’s always exciting to get the horn as you cross the line. Thank you to my crew who did a fantastic job: Derek, John, Peter, and my daughter Clare on mainsheet, and to the Race Officers who provide this great weekly unwind for us to enjoy.'

Results