only 10 days to go before the nationals start, just looking at the list of entries, it looks like only 4 boats from S.A coming and 1 from N.S.W, if this is correct it will be a very ordinary effort.
Somers Y.C the biggest mossie club in Victoria have only one boat entered.
What has caused this.
Is it the time of year?
Location?
Cost?
Lack of interest?
or do people have something better to do?

It shouldn't be the location, we went for our usual Boxing Day drive and I decided to turn left at the end of the driveway and go to Warrnambool.

Went down to the Yacht Club and had a look at the bay, it looks good, the caravan parks were filling up, Lake Pertobe (big, big family playground) in full swing and carnival's in town.

So plenty for everyone to do, one thing I like about Warrnambool is there are a lot of things to do for everyone and most of it is around where you guys will be based.

Regards

I was at Summer’s yesterday and there was 7 mossie’s on the water four local and three visitors. All had a great day’s sailing. Winds from 5 to 10 knots with Dolphins playing around the boats. The total fleet at a guess was about thirty boats including some internationals on Tornados.

Congratulation to Matt winning the Div 2 and I believe his first win on a Mossie. It was done in spectacular form. Jeremy lead the race from the start line with Peter and Tom in hot pursuit and close on their tail was James and then Matt. During the race James, Matt, Peter and Tom had their turn in all of the minor places 2nd, 3rd and 4th, but it was Matt that managed to get through Jeremy on the second last leg down wind reach and then hold him off on the square reach to the line for the win with a slender margin to Jeremy then Peter & Tom.
Summer’s is a great place to sail, we managed to miss all the buoys, just on one occasion after a crash jibe an boat length from the mark, dame tide. The sailing and social activities after the race was will worth the drive.

Talking to some of the Mossies sailor they put their apologies in for the nationals as Summers is holding a round of the Asia-Pacific Tornado’s at the same time as our Nationals. This meant they would have to leave their boats in the yard and man rescue and the like.

Peter

These are the entries received before the end of November when the late entry fee kicked in. Since then none have been received - but I wouldn't expect any. There's no incentive to do anything other than enter on the day.

It is very hard for the organisers to prepare for the event without any definite numbers. Maybe next time the event T-shirt should be conditional on at least getting an entry form in before Christmas.

At the last mossie meeting, we counted/guesstimated 10 boats coming over from SA for the nationals in Warnambool,4 have nominated already so I imagine 6 will nominate on the day,
Cheers,
Roy,
Aquarius,
Mosquito 1770

Thanks Roy. That's good news.

Hi All,

The Toy is a definite starter with the accom booked and paid for. There was a slight hiccup in the early entry and I missed the cut off date and as Tim said - There is no incentive to pay after that date.

Maybe we could have an intent or expression of interest section on the website, or even in this forum, to show approximate numbers for organisational purposes. If its easy to use I think we as a group would do so. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

As for others jumping on and making up names etc, we are a tight enough group to see through that - Which is one of the best things about sailing a Mossie! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Happy New Year to all !!!

It's a bit late now but, sure thing, it's done.

There is a small form on the VMCA home page which people can use just to let us know they are coming.

This forum is also a perfectly good way to do it. I am watching!

Sorry, I can't make it. Wish all participants a great national as I'm sure it will be!

Hi Tim,
I am going to make an effort to get No Turbulence out of the shed and attend the Nationals. I notice Gary Lane is sailing maybe you could have a special category for retired Mosquito sailors <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Great to hear you are coming Ross.

A lot of us feel like we're semi-retired from sailing so there would be a lot of competition for that trophy.

The numbers are currently standing at 27 entries. If anyone else is coming and hasn't entered please fill in the form on the VMCA home page to let us know. Thanks.

sorry guys i wont make it, it is definately the dates that are stopping me. i work in the mining/construction industry and i start work on the 7th. unless there is a miracle and i can get another week off, but i am not holding my breath. if it looks like it is going to blow 17 - 22 knots every day - give me a yell
good luck to everyone

Hi all,

Saw this sports item on the Warnambool Standard. Even has a photo of the Mozzie action. Hope the link works.

Regards,

Peter

http://warrnambool.yourguide.com.au/news...ip/1157672.html

Thanks Peter,

looks like it is situations normal <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />.

Gary,

Report from yesterday's National titles is attached below.

This one is even more spookier <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

http://warrnambool.yourguide.com.au/news/sport/general/impossible-win-landed/1158881.html

Regards,

Peter

Hey Darryn,

Extract from the Warnambool Standard below:

Darry Kopp [color:"red"] [/color] , of Port Noarlunga South, chased home Wilson in the second heat aboard Bullet, with Karma Cat (Tim Shepperd) third.

Can we now call you Darry ?? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Well Done, Bob.

Reading motivational performances such as this one outlined in the above article (The Standard, 9th Jan 08) puts the whole aspect of sailing into perspective.

In my opinion, too much is written about having to reduce the weight of a boat to be competitive. Too many people are more concerned about removing, for example, half a kilo, than just getting on a boat and sailing!

Thanks again, Bob.

Steve

Hi Steve,

if only you knew Bob like I know Bob <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />.

Hi all,

I guess that Bob's preparation is meticulous and absolutely nothing is left to chance. It's probably a bit like watching Ashby and Bundock compete on the Tornado. The rest of the competion is usually in catchup mode.

Latest report entry link from the Warnambool Standard is provided below. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

http://warrnambool.yourguide.com.au/news/sport/general/just-a-formality/1160454.html

Regards,

Peter

mmmmm.... On reading Bobs training regime I can see some things in common with mine. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

I look at my boat, every weekend. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

I also train for 3 sessions a week. Starting with a Becks and finishing off with some Cab Sav repititions. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Perhaps I could refine it a bit. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Sounds like a great week down there. Thank you Peter F for keeping those of us who couldn't attend, so well informed.

With a name like mine I get lots of variety with spelling, doesn't bother me at all.

It was a good Nationals, aside from the regulars doing well was great to see newcomers to the class up front as well, Matt Stone and Ben Cutmore were right up there and Ross Bennett just got faster each day as he blew the cobwebs out of the boat.

Darryn
1782

Hey All
Great Nationals. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />
Thanks to all involved and Darryn,Tim,Neil & every one else who helped me with good advice. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
I got a lot out of sailing with such a fast group of mozzie sailors. The big wind on Friday was great fun, just wait until the photos are posted... <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />
Cheers

Hi to all,

I thought that I might show a few photos from the week. Most of mine are of the 'Toy', (as expected) <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

Boats on the beach...

Try again...

A broken Toy getting a tow - And on the first day!.

An easy fix though.

Matt Stone and 'The Tiger' battling the sea and wind on Friday...

1733 putting the beating back into beating to windward...

Trevor,

Hope you had a great regatta despite the dis-mast experience. What was the cause ?

Would you please try another download of the first photo.
It's a great photo of the top half of the sails. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> Would love to see the rest of the image.

Regards,


Peter

Some more photos here.

Here's some photo's from the last day.

and another

Hi Peter,

Certainly was a great regatta, Warrnambool YC did a great job with everything.

The dismast was a loss of the starboard shroud pin while going up wind on port. A tack saw the rig fall gently over. I heard it described as graceful! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I got off lightly - an altercation with another boat saw Rob on Grey Matter lose part of the starboard bow, it was temp repaired with epoxy and a lot of tape, prompting a name change to Grey Tape. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

The Cobdens on Try Hard broke a diamond and seconds later the mast in the wind on Friday. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

Hi all,

love the photo's of the last day, wish I was there.

It's a pity the photos can't do justice to the first couple of days. There were some awesome sights at the gybe mark (the gybe mark was closest to the shore).

I remember vividly sitting at the top of one wave, with the gybe mark sitting at the top of the next wave but I was still a long way from the mark (I would guess about 15 to 20 boatlengths) and there was just this huge hole (like a crater) between us.

Peter Nikitin had an interesting time gybing around that mark while the 4 metre wave actually broke right behind him. A few spectators on other boats watched this and just waited for the crunch which, fortunately for Peter, never came.

The amazing thing was that even when the wind got really light (4 knots or less) we could still make forward progress against these waves, going upwind.

There are some more nationals photos in the album now.

And some more:











[img]http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f392/vmca/2008Nationals/P1020799.jpg[/img]

Hey Tim
Thanks for posting the photos <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />any chance of getting the video someone took on the last day <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Great Photos
Just had a look at the elapsed times for Mk1 versus Mk2 - dont think that they are correct - maybe the 5min start time difference has not been taken into account?
Does anyone have any ideas.

Looking at the races where I remember being near Warwick at the finish, we have about the same elapsed time, so I would say you are dead right. Either the sloops should have an extra 5 minutes or the cats should have 5 minutes less. It's probably the later, since the sloops started first and that's when they probably started the timer on the committee boat.

This is why it's always bad practise to use elapsed times when recording finishers. If actual start and finish times are recorded and software used to calculate the elapsed times this kind of mistake doesn't happen (and it's so easy to record real times - you only need a wristwatch).

When elapsed times are recorded stuff-ups often happen (like this, or the timer accidentally gets reset during the race, or it falls overboard or someone spills their beer into it or the battery goes flat or .....).

Fortunately it doesn't actually affect the results.

Not sure I feel like going right through that page of results adjusting all the times though - took long enough to build it in the first place

Hi Ben

Peter Cobden has the video. I can send you a copy when I get it. I'm looking forward to seeing it myself.

Some more ...

Hi Tim,

did 1794 come back up? Or is it still on the bottom off Warnambool. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" />

Hi Tim, you should have a copy of all our pic's including some short videos. We have another copy we would like to send to someone in SA to distribute around the Mossie sailors over there.

Also 1805 is back in action and sailed at St Leonards over the Australia Day weekend.
St Leonards had two races each day Saturday through Monday with a mixed fleet. The Cats included A-Class, F18, PT's, Dolphins, Hobie 16 and our two Mossie's. We managed to sail our boats in all configurations, Cat, Sloop, Sloop with Spin and Cat with Spin.
The two races on Sunday in 18 to 22 Knots and Monday in 3 to 6 Knots. All in all a well run and laid back event.
Peter

I've sent you an email Peter with my address to send the pics and video to,
Thanks,
Darryn

Thanks Darryn, they are on there way.
Peter

There's some video from the last day of the nationals on the VMCA home page. I'll put it here as well.