Tyrell and Rousso Wrap-up
Kirk Marcolina
It was a sparkling clear, warm Sydney afternoon with a strengthening north easter and an outgoing tide – what a great day for our annual Christmas fixtures, the Tyrell and the Rousso.
These are prestigious races, each with a perpetual trophy that includes some lofty names in sailing. And they are a fun format too.
The Rousso is a scratch race with a massed start, comprising all boats in all classes starting at once. By tradition, everyone wears a Santa hat for some great photos of the start. A yardstick is applied to the winner in each of the classes to determine the overall winner.
Santas Sailing.
The Tyrell is a handicapped chase, with the slowest boat starting first and successive faster boats hunting each other down as they start over the next 5-10 minutes per their handicap, making for perhaps the most competitive and exciting race of the season.
Dene Bergman presented a short biography on Dick Tyrell and Mano Rousso, which will be posted in the coming weeks in the history section of the website. He also presented the club with two new permanent trophies to replace the now-aging originals.
In the Rousso, the winners were Rod Barnes in the Standards and Martin White in the Radials. The overall winner was Martin, who thrived in the bumpy conditions and strengthening breeze, beating many of the Standards across the line.
Martin White wins the Rousso.
In the Tyrell, the handicap system was working well, with the top 10 boats finishing within less than a minute of each other. The leading Standards were not quite able to catch the leading Radials as the breeze picked up and kept the Radials in full power. There was a hot chase and closing gap as Matt Knight crossed the line a few boat lengths behind the winner, Richard George.
Richard George wins the Tyrell.
Thanks to all our volunteers for a great day out: Mark Bethwaite (PRO), assisted by Clare, and Simon Stone (COTD), assisted by Jack Sywak and his mate, Toby, who, when he’s not visiting DBSC, is reading Economics at Oxford. Thanks also to Peter Speed, who assisted in the canteen.
Simon Stone chauffeuring Carolyn Bethwaite and Shirley Roach.