Page 3 - CYAA 2022 Winter Series Race 8 14th August @ RMYS

Race 8 corrected time congratulations go to Akala and her
skipper David McNeice.

Throughout the race, the three up Akala was in her Sydney to Hobart heavy wind
element as she held her place as the mid-fleet leader throughout the race. Thanks
to a long distance snap of her by Jane Williamson on Mercedes III we see what
the race tower saw, Akala, the only kite flyer of the race, on the run from the
RMYS C to RMYS E marks.

First time past the race tower, Akala lead the fleet by a small time margin over
Seabird and Cyan. At the finish Akala improved her time margin over Cyan to
lead the fleet home on corrected time by one minute and a further 34 seconds Photo Jane Williamson
over third placing Mercedes III . Nothing is easy when it comes to winning
Akala gets her kite pole downhaul under control in prep for the drop
heavy wind classic races. Watching Akala from the race tower confirms this comment.

Line honours congratulations went to Kingurra.

Race 8 weather predictions. The wrong move

Again our Port Phillip forecasts showed you can never be quite sure of the Port Phillip wind conditions until the actual start time. We had
westerly conditions predicted two days out so your race officer went out hard and fast with an early race 8 course allocation in the pre
race notes he issued. Wrong move.

Actually, this northerly wind allowed for the use of the RMYS G Mark as the top mark in lieu of the intended use of the RMYS D Mark.
For first mark rounding congestion reasons after the start, we avoid using this RMYS D mark when possible.

Classic yacht race management!! Nothing is easy

What a start!! We knew the RMYS light box rebuild notice to competitors covered the no start countdown lights but no sound signals
either. This unexpected curve ball hit and bounced off the gallant race management trio when the tower was being set up. No problems a
radio call will be our sound signal. As so it was. So it was back to the good old days where the RMYS start box looked like a fully
dressed classic yacht celebrating a racing season opening day. Finding the flags was a fun challenge. We got them all, eventually.
Hoisting and lowering was under the management of our RMYS volunteer Chris Cullin, owner of the couta boat Hettie. That great man,
Roger Dundas, stepped in to quell the panic when the flag hoist lines wouldn’t behave. Don’t believe those stories of race management
people sitting around besotted by gin while smoking fat cigars and reading rule books.
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