East Coast Championship 2024
Sat 08 Jun 2024 - Mon 10 Jun 2024
Botany Bay held at
Georges River Sailing Club, Sanoni Avenue, Sandringham
www.optinsw.org.au/eventsregister/238435/
Open to Foiling Boards, Wings and Wazps.
Still time to register for the winter races on this long weekend. iQ, Formula Foil, Free Foil, Wind Wings all welcome.
Late fee has been delayed until Friday so register ASAP. The wind looks pretty good so should be a good 3 days of racing with a mix of course racing and slalom depending on the wind on the day.
winter regatta done We attempted two course races on Saturday but it wasn't really windy enough. The forecast was much stronger so the race committee had decided to only offer course racing on day 1.
I think every foil rider needed a lift home even the iQs struggled to get up river against the current which maxed out at 4.4kts! The strong current At the top mark caught a few out. Rounding clear of the mark the current pushed a few against the buoy causing lost time or even a DNF.
Sunday was rightly called off late on Saturday afternoon, saving everyone a disappointing day.
Monday was the best in the end with decent SW swinging to S at about 6-16 knots. Mostly 10-14. We had some good slalom races on the iQ track. 7 races with windfoils and windwings starting together and the wazps also on course. The same race start boat ran the 29er's upwind course starts and finishes while we had a second boat doing finish duties downwind.. But struggling to hold anchor initially!.
The additional buoys donated from the storm rider club coming in very handy!
There were a few eventful moments with offshore gusts catching some out. I saw a massive wing wipeout, had my own, and saw the save of the day when Amelia Q missed her harness hook, and was riding her 95 mast about 94.5cm out of the water. There were a few spills at the gybe marks. Amelia W got tangled up and missing a couple of heats with a minor injury.
Thanks to all who raced and especially to Tom Squires for helping out setting courses and ferrying people in and out.
Big thanks to the Opti club of NSW and GRSC for hosting and to SGSC and KCC for providing people and equipment.
We can ensure slalom is on the SI's for future events to make sure we can go racing in marginal conditions as needed. Bigger fleets and more volunteers always welcome.
