Race Report - Saturday 14 December 2024

All photos by Thomas Beregi

Tyrell & Rousso Races

Report by PRO Luke Parker

A light ESE dictated that the course be set in the Dardanelle straight between point piper and Shark island.  As always there were plenty of shifts and holes, but this week the fleet enjoyed added pleasure(?) of a multitude of yachts racing an interclub series.  And a plethora of charter boats hosting Christmas parties.  And jet boats blasting around with tourists.  And Sydney ferries.  And a few historical 18’s were there as well.   It was a busy day.  Keeping out of trouble was the aim.  Most succeeded to some extent.

The two races took into account yardstick.   Full Rigs are  rated at 114, Radials 118.5 and 4.7’s 125.  This means radials are rated to take 4% longer to sail an identical course than full rigs, and 4.7’s are rated to take 9.6% longer than an identically sailed full rig.

The Richard Tyrell Trophy

The Tyrell race named after Richard Tyrell, one of the early laser class sailors of DBSC.  The Tyrell memorial race is a yardstick adjusted, handicap start.  The slower sailors start first and are chased by the quicker boats.  The theory is that all boats will sail in equivalent breeze and if all sailors perform exactly according to their handicap, all boats should all cross the finish line at the same time.    The reality was the breeze was stronger at the beginning of the race and faded as the race continued.  This favoured the early starters, and particularly the boats slowest on yardstick, namely the 4.7’s.  

Raphael McLachlan in his 4.7 blitzed the field and won by a country mile.  His 4.7 was almost 3 minutes ahead of the next 4.7, and almost 9 minutes ahead of the first Radial, Daniel Leupen, who was just 2 seconds ahead of Tim Heath in his full rig.  Even more remarkably, Raphael’s elapsed time was FASTER than the first Radial and only a minute slower than the first Full Rig!  Watching from the cheap seats in the start boat, Raphael really sailed a good race with impeccable boat handling, so well done.

The Mano Rousso Trophy

The Rousso is named after one of DBSC’s most generous volunteers.  The race is a mass start, with a post race adjustment for yardsticks on the three classes.

The breeze appeared to fade further which again favoured the leaders, but in this race it was the full rigs who got the jump.  After plenty of jockeying up the front, Connor Kellett saluted the horn , leading a close bunch of 5 full rigs.  His elapsed time of 50 minutes and 44 seconds was sufficient to beat Alister’s Radial time of 54 mins, 50 seconds and Raphael in his 4.7 at 57 minutes and 30 seconds.

Thanks to John Vasey, Thomas Beregi and Andrew Foote for well run and efficient racing.

Vittles, libations and merriment followed at the Xmas party.