S97 state titles

A long weekend is a time for rejoicing, especially at the end of a long Perth summer when you have three days of sailing looming. Yachts in this class are moored at the Royal Perth Yacht Club, South of Perth Yacht Club and Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Clubs on the Swan River.

As this is a blue water weekend; the yachts have to be motored down river, dropping the mast to clear the three bridges separating Fremantle and North Fremantle before mooring on the pontoons of the Royal Perth annex.

Rigging the yacht in the marina pre-race; the Royal Perth Yacht Club Fremantle annex requires yachts to be tied together, it makes rigging a little cluttered but very sociable.

The advantage of the S97 is the inboard diesel engine; no need to sail out of the pens, marina or onto the course. The downside was we snagged so much weed on the prop, we were slowed down on certain legs and paid dearly over the weekend.

Starting down the pin end, we believed a clear advantage could be gained by heading to the port side of the course, we sought clear air but got locked in position leaving us with limited maneuverability.

A great duel between yachts ensured close racing over the weekend, the difference between first and last was very narrow, any advantage required careful planning and positioning.

As the fleet splits heading towards the windward mark, we felt the advantage to the port side would give us a distinct advantage, however, we got buried at the windward mark on port tack.

Heading past the windward mark, setting the spinnaker pole and hoisting the spinnaker is where superior crew work pays dividends. Only a couple of weeks later, our forward hand was contacted by a radio station in regards to her being the oldest forward hand competing on the Perth waterways.

Spinnaker set and heading downwind, the light winds over the weekend suited a number of boats, unfortunately for us, heavy breezes didn't eventuate - this just wasn't our regatta.