2016 Commodores’ Race – for the race report and full results please click below:The  2016 Commodores’ Trophy race was held in beautiful conditions just off Fremantle, although the wind was frustratingly light at the start, and many boats were late over the line.  A very light southerly came in shortly after a downwind start and it became a slow tactical beat to the first mark.  The race boats such as Le Jag, Blondie, Huckleberry and the UFO 34 Impulse gradually asserted their superiority and pulled away slightly from the rest of the fleet.  The breeze steadily filled in to a beautiful 10-12 knots and it was a relatively close bunched fleet around the course.  Despite her smaller IRC jib Blondie held off a determined challenge by Le Jag and Huckleberry to be first over the line.  However, the day was stolen by Morning Tide.  With a superb feat of sailing she crept up to the leading race boats and crossed the line less than 2 minutes behind Le Jag.  A well deserved win to Kevin, Jim and the Morning Tide crew, proving that a well sailed cruising boat is not so much slower that a race model.  Below is how our President Roger Raymond saw it:

2016 Commodores’ Race

There were a few conflicts along the way.
At one stage we had no Commodores and 12 S&S34s.
Then a few boats dropped out. Some of those boats had sailed many of the past 35 races and I believe have fulfilled all their expectations.
Places we firstly offered to S&S34. Despite some being berthed at FSC there were reasons that they could not sail on the 13th.
Then we had confirmation of 12 Commodores’ and the scramble to find a few more S&S34 failed to deliver.
I accepted the offer that a couple of UFO 34s be recruited. A solution used before. So we had boats and Commodores.
So at least we had a race.
Some were confused on the start line. Eventually the boats got away The winds were a test of light air boat handling and sail trim.  A little extra weight, a slightly fouled undersurface, a stall here or there. head sail track too far in, halyard tension off a cm, a little less outhaul, who did not ease the vang. Weight down giving a few degrees of heel amazing how heavy sails hold their shape if the boat is leaning.
At the end of the race we have the results.
The fastest boat ticked the most boxes.
The handicap tries to figure who has sailed better than they were expected on past performance.
This year the boat that won was owned by a sailor who has taken his S&S 34 around the world.
Sunday was a 2 hour Jib and Mainsail race. The helm was taken by an invited Commodore.
A deserved win to Morning Tide.
The smile on Jim’s face when they made the result’s announcement made the who race/organisation worthwhile.
Until next year

I can only say, those who did not make the effort to sail missed out.

Roger

The happy winning team of Kevin Sneddon and owner Jim Putt accepting the trophy from FSC Vice Commodore Bill Burbridge

*= UFO 34 invited as number of Commodores entered exceeded available S&S 34s

Full FSC results Commodores’ Race 13 March 2016