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Balmoral Mirror Race Report March 24

3/28/2018

The Mirrors were treated to one of the nicest sailing days you could ask for on Saturday for Heat 7 of the Club Championship. A building NE breeze with the sun shining and yet the harbour relatively quiet.
After a slight delay, the fleet got away to an even start. Newly crowned State Champions Cullen and James in Wave Catcher set the pace up the first work to lead around the first mark. Firefly helmed this week by 10 year old Oliver with dad Gavin squeezed up front reached the top mark next but didn’t count on the National E class using the same mark as a leeward mark. After avoiding a collision with the big boats they ducked the transom of Derek and Claudia in the Tigers Tail to round in 3rd. Next around was Tony and Matt in the much improved Upper Cut with Lewis and Breda and the Molly M close behind.
The boats enjoyed a brisk kite ride to the wing mark with Wave Catcher establishing a nice lead. Behind them, two separate battles formed with Tigers Tail and Firefly going boat for boat. Just behind them Upper Cut was being chased by the Molly M.
Around the next two laps the fleet enjoyed perfect sailing in the now fresh NE with the 2 pairs closely matched.
Wave Catcher powered ahead to a deserved win. Tigers Tail held on to a well earned 2nd ahead of Firefly. Molly M snuck through the boys on Upper Cut downwind to come in 4th.

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Balmoral Mirror Race Report March 17

3/23/2018

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The Mirror fleet was split into 2 distinct camps this week with two boats using the opportunity for the crews to steer with Rowan taking the helm of Wave Catcher and Oliver skippering the Firefly. The other boats all featured some of more experienced skippers sailing one-up. After spending much of the season working on his boat and crewing on other boats, Tony Mandl re-launched the Upper Cut featuring an upgraded rig with aluminium mast and sloop rig. Joining in the single handed stakes were Steve in the Spiegel and Lewie in the Molly M.
With the start slightly delayed waiting for the Scout Regatta to clear, the fleet got away to an even start in a light to moderate NE breeze.
Once again David and Michelle in their Heron She Said Yes powered away upwind and were never headed by the Mirrors. The Mirrors on the other hand enjoyed a race to remember. First around the top mark was Oliver in the Firefly who taken the left side up the work with the rest of the fleet close behind. The fleet closed up on the first reach as the wind died in the lee of Grotto and first to emerge around the wing mark was the Upper Cut closely ahead of Wave Catcher and Molly M. Spiegel rounded next with a frustrated Oliver rounding last in the Firefly. Tony sailing with good speed extended his lead on the next 2 legs. Some spinnaker troubles slowed the progress of the Upper Cut on the square run allowing Wave Catcher and Molly M to pass. Firefly sailed a great final work to move auto to 3rd just behind the leaders at the top mark the last time. Despite the Grotto lee once again slowing the boats, Wave Catcher held on for a fine first race win as skipper for Rowan. Second was Molly M with a beaming Lewie aboard for his best race of the season. Firefly rounded the final mark just ahead of Upper Cut and Oliver put a tight cover on Tony to finish third with Spiegel just behind. A very enjoyable race prompting much discussion on the club deck after unrigging.

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Balmoral Mirror Race Report March 10 - Marathon

3/16/2018

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Balmoral Sailing Club held their annual marathon on Saturday. The various classes were sent away in 2 fleets with the fast boats getting away first. The Mirrors started in the second fleet with the scow moths and an Aero or two.
The conditions were just about perfect for the marathon with an Easterly blowing giving an upwind leg to Quarantine inside North Head followed by a reach to Shark Island. The first fleet then rounded Fort Denison before heading backsaws to Balmoral. The Mirrors turned back st Shark Island.
Cullen was missing a crew and sailed Wave Catcher one-up and was untouchable - even leading David and Michelle in their Heron She Said Yes around the 1st mark. Next around was Gavin and Oliver in Firefly, followed by Steve and Tony in Spiegel and Andrew and Jackson in Fast Glass. The boys
managed to co-ordinate the crab trap setting with the start this week dropping the trap from the Mirror on the way to the start and picking it up on the way back in. Unfortunately their organisation skills weren’t rewarded with a catch this week. Almost about perfect sailing conditions meant the crews enjoyed a magic day in the harbour. The reach made overtaking difficult and the boats finishing in the same order and doing well on Yardstick.
Lewie and Breda had a day off from racing but still managed to enjoy the harbour catching a glimpse of the boats from Nielson Park and the fleet sailed by.
Attached are a few shots courtesy of Lewie.

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Balmoral Mirror Race Report March 3

3/9/2018

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A 7 race series of sailing the previous week at the State Titles took it’s toll on the fleet this week with a number of crews taking a break. However it was good to welcome back Tigers Tail, Fast Glass and Molly M back to the rigging lawn after a brief absence.

The fleet were presented with a perfect day for sailing with a 10-15kn NE on a sunny Sydney summers day. The presence of extra yachts from the Sydney Regatta on course made the pre-start a little crowded but they soon cleared out to leave us alone.

David and Michelle Johnson in their Heron She Said Yes joined the Mirrors at the start and showed a clean pair of heels, quicker upwind and just far enough in front of the Mirrors spinnakers downwind.

Derek and Daniel in Tigers Tail led the Mirrors around the first mark just ahead of Firefly, this week being sailed by Oliver in just his 2nd race as skipper (with his dad Gavin squeezed up front). Close behind were Molly M and Spiegel.

Tigers Tail led around the bottom mark with Firefly hot in their heels but Firefly tacked away at the bottom mark, a tactical error in the strong run out tide and Tigers Tail stretched their lead by the next top mark. Firefly closed the gap by the finish but Tigers Tail finished deserved winners.
Behind Molly M and Spiegel battled neck and neck around the course with Lewie and Breda in Molly M finishing a fine 3rd ahead of Steve and Tony in the Spiegel.
Andrew and Jackson in the Fast Glass cut short their racing day so Jackson could check his crab trap with the boys picking up dinner in the form of a large Blue Swimmer crab.
A great day all round!

This weekend is the Marathon with a 1:30 start.
Should be an Easterly which means a reach both ways down the harbour.

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RACE REPORTS

Balmoral Mirror Race Report March 24

Balmoral Mirror Race Report March 17

Balmoral Mirror Race Report March 10 - Marathon

Balmoral Mirror Race Report March 3

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