Hey All,
The Bullets Regatta was held over the w\end.
And ended with a Bang!!!!!!! (I'll get to that later)
35 cats turned up Aclass,TheMightyHobie18,h16,tipans all sloop, mozzie & windrush.
We were split into 2 starts. TheMightyHobie18, h16, mozzie & windrush 1st
A,tiapans 5 min behind.
Wind was very light we waited on the beach for a few hours then started.
Very light N/E came thru 1st race I was 2nd to the top mark then lost the plot down wind.
The wind had died to less than 5 knots and every bugger with a pwr boat was turning Pittwater into chop city it felt like I was riding a rocking horse.
Got to the bottem mark with boats everywhere and had nowhere to go, so had to do a 360 just to avoid a collision. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />
Then if things weren't bad enough I was sailing up wind sitting foward put my hand out to move but missed the hull and FELL BETWEEN THE HULLS INTO THE WATER <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />
oh well it was just one of those days.
Not sure of the results I was still mid pack.
2nd race was better shortened course due to dying wind still I peformed very poorly in less than 5 knots.
Bring on Sunday and the expectation of more wind forecast southerly change 10-15 knots.
This finaly arrived at 12ish with a strong wind & storm warning later in the arvo expected.(We thought the change would hit 5-6 ish <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />)First two races were good I was still lacking big regatta racing experience making silly judgement calls costing time but still finishing ok in the front pack.
Last race I got a V bad start tacked to port with no speed & was in irons watching every one sail away <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />
I finally got going and put my head down. I took a chance and went to the right when all but one went left.
Well the boat was screaming, it felt the fastest it has been up wind & was 2nd around the top mark.
The shorten race flag was out with a MASSIVE storm brewing I was in the top 5 or so boats running to the finish. Not really paying much attention to the storm but hearing lightening getting closer .
I was next to Rod Waterhouse and jokingly yelled out "I'm glad I've got the shortest mast"
As we crossed the line most other boats had headed for the safety of the beach.
I rounded up to work on starboard back to the beach when the front hit us like a truck.
Looking foward a h16 got instantly knocked over. I pulled the downhall on & let traveler out, and tried to pinch back. All the other cats were upside down by now. I lasted about 20 seconds before I went over. I couldn't see anything more than 10 metres away.
All I could do was hold onto the boat. It was amazing, some of the more experienced guys said they thought it was over 50 knots.
It lasted about 10 minutes and hail was also making it even more fun, not to mention the lightening was VERY close. It was scary.
I knew fronts don't usually last very long but I remember thinking if this sets in I'll be at Gosford soon & there's only rocks there.
As it cleared slightly (back to 15 knots still hailing & heavy rain)all I could see was upside down hulls.
I righted Top Gun and the only damage was a small bend in my tiller extension so I got back to land as quick as possible.
There was an ambulance there treating one of the Tiapan sailors who was shocked by lightening when 4 metres from the beach. A few people felt the lightening through their feet on the beach(two guys were taken to hospital for observation and are ok now <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />)
Jason Waterhouse had just got to shore when it hit his H16. It got picked up and the mast was snapped.
Maybe it will be called beware of the heavy artillery next year <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
There maybe some photos & results coming.
They had a class for the TheMightyHobie18, h16, Tipans,A class, & open class (this class consisted of My mozzie & Mitch Booths Mother & Father on a windrush 14 They only raced sat and are over 70 years old)I just beat them <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />
So I won the open class <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />