OFFSHORE UPDATE | FREMANTLE SAILING CLUB, WESTERN AUSTRALIA

October / November 2019 | Edition 04

Hi Offshore Sailors,

The new season is now well and truly underway. The FSC Foundation - George Law Memorial Race was successfully run on a shorter course and feedback was positive from our partner clubs in Offshore Racing. Thanks again go to the Law family who was very active on the day as well as sponsoring the event. Well done Isabelle.

Fremantle Sailing Club continues to look at ways to improve the racing on water for all the fleets involved.

The Geraldton is on this weekend coming and the numbers looks a little stronger this year. Next up after that for Offshore Racing on November 2nd is the Rockwater Coventry Reef Race, sponsored again by Roger Passmore. The following day is the Harbour Classic and I encourage as many of you as possible to enter, even if this is a first for you. A guaranteed good day out.

FSC will conduct the West Coaster on 16 November and the 3 Ports on 14 December. Make sure you are on board.

On the weekend of the 30th November RFBYC is running the dolphin and Gordon Craig Races (overnighting at TCYC); with some windward/leewards thrown in, these races will comprise the IRC States for 2019/20. It is being run as Cat 6. It would be good for the offshore sailors to encourage our inshore sailors to participate. So speak to anyone you know and suggest this to them.

The Terry Fisher series starts in December (8th) this year. With one race a month until May, this provides another chance for us to get out with the Inshore Racing fleet and is a great opportunity for crew training as well as a good social occasion afterward.

A new series, named for Rob Thomas, will also be run over the season. This will incorporate a number of races from different fleets, including a twilight race. Keep an eye out for this.

The Clipper boats will be here in December. We will advise later on how we will be involved in welcoming them.

Following a review of last season, a couple of safety-related issues have come up. The AIS test will be repeated along with some other measures which will address ours on water preparedness. Also, some random audits may be conducted prior to some races.  Any such matters will be clearly included in the relevant race day SSIs. Also, can all skippers ensure that radios are up and performing well? This may mean checking coverage when further out, including perhaps some relay stations. There were some issues in this regard last season for some boats.

Issues that arose with the Yellow Book, section 4.2, have been addressed. Any concerns about this please contact a committee member or the sailing office.

The matter of the dissolution of ORWA ( which will occur at the end of this year) as Australian Sailing restructures things in WA is ongoing. FSC continues to negotiate with all the stakeholders in Offshore Racing to arrive at a workable alternative. We will keep everyone updated.

It is looking like a great season with some changes to the program on water and continued great support off water from everybody involved. See you all on the water and back at the club.

Regards,

Michael Thorpe, FSC Offshore Racing Section Captain

Offshore Optimist Fleet

The newly wrapped club optimists created quite a sceptical on opening day! For those not aware, each of our 7 club optimists have been sponsored by one of the clubs Offshore yachts. This means each boat received a new sail from North Sail, a complete hardware makeover (thanks to Thor and Rome!) and a complete sticker wrap with the decals of their 'parent' offshore boat courtesy of Kieran Featherstone from deSIGNco. Thanks to Thor and David White (Dubbo) for 

Thanks to the Offshore Boats involved!

Dirty Deeds, Enterprise, Crush, Kraken, Alfresco, Aquila & Weapon of Choice 

UPCOMING EVENTS

THIS WEEKEND! Have all a great and safe race!

Geraldton Ocean Classic Yacht Race is a qualifying event for Fremantle to Bali Ocean Race 2020.

Start: 0930 hrs Saturday 12th October, 2019 (AWST)

Safety Category: 2

Race Distance to Geraldton: 221 nm

Fremantle to Geraldton Race Record:   17h 11m 22s by INDIAN in 2015
Geraldton to Fremantle Race Record:   19h 59m 33s by OPTIMUS PRIME in 2008

FSC Rockwater Coventry Reef Race
Saturday, 2nd November 2019

Approx 48 nm
FIRST SIGNAL: 0925
SAFETY CAT 3

The FSC Coventry Reef Race was originally the FSC Five Fathoms Race. From the September 1982 Blue Water Bulletin:
"The Five Fathom Ocean Race is an interesting shorter race, at the right time of the year with good weather conditions, going to Coventry Reef and returning to Fremantle, the round trip being approximately 53 nm. This is a rather special race on our calendar as we have a perpetual trophy in memory of the late Gordon Haselhurst who was one of the instigators of this race, and a revered and hard-working member of FSC. The trophy has been kindly donated by the Royal Instrument Company. It consists of wind speed and wind direction gauges of benefit to all members and will be positioned directly below the Club Bell in the main bar area.
In 1984 SoPYC ran the Marine Hull Coventry Reef Race as part of the Schweppes Ocean Racing Series. That included a Mandurah Race and a Commodores Night Race.
In 1985 Fremantle Sailing Club introduced the Gordon Haselhurst Memorial Race, to Coventry Reef and return – the only difference was that the Fremantle Sailing Club race rounded the reef to starboard while South of Perth Yacht Club race that rounded it to port.
In 1991 SoPYC discontinued its Coventry Reef race (run from the mid 1970’s as a Division 3 race in conjunction with their non-stop Mandurah and Return race).
In 1997 FSC added ‘Coventry Reef’ to the title of the race.
In 2011 the Gordon Haselhurst family trust discontinued their sponsorship and in 2012 ‘Rockwater’ took up the Sponsorship."

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FSC Rockwater Coventry Reef Race is proudly sponsored by Rockwater Hydrogeology and Environmental.
>> Rockwater helps provide clean energy by developing hot or warm groundwater sources used for heating/cooling building and swimming pools.
>> Rockwater Environmental Team conducts surveys and monitoring programmes all over WA.
FIND OUT MORE >> www.rockwater.com.au

CLUB MARINE HARBOUR CLASSIC 2019

Sunday, 3rd November 2019 | From 1pm

The Fremantle Port comes alive when some of the State’s biggest racing boats put on a display of skill and daring manoeuvres in the annual Club Marine Fremantle Harbour Classic. This amazing spectacle is the only sailing event of its kind and is an invitational event for Perth’s best to compete. It is a ‘Pursuit Race’ confined to the inner harbour showcasing exceptional sailing and excitement at every turn. This dynamic event is free to the public and unlike other sailing events, spectators can take advantage of the many quayside vantage points within the Fremantle Harbour.

THE WEST COASTER RACE \\ SAVE THE DATE >> 16th November 

Saturday 30 Nov and Sunday 1st Dec 2019

WA IRC State Championships

Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club will host the 2020 WA IRC State Championships in the 2019-20 summer season as part of the Rockingham Race Regatta / IRC Youth Cup Series. 

This is an Ocean Racing WA event hosted by RFBYC. Competitors need to complete an ORWA registration for the 2019-2020 season prior to entering the championship. 

FREMANTLE SAILING CLUB | SUMMER OFFSHORE SERIES 2019/2020

Offshore Committee 2019/2020

• Captain: Michael Thorpe
• Rear Commodore of Sail: Bill Henson
• Secretary: Máire Connolly
• Treasurer: Richard Kendall 
• Safety Officer: Peter Kennington
• Race Officer: Trevor Milton
• ORWA FSC Representative: Mark Nagleu
• ORWA Boat Representative: John Rayner 
• Sailing and Events Manager: Travis Burtenshaw
• Committee/Safety: Doug Steel 
• Committee/Safety: Andrew Nuttman
• Committee/Safety: Lyn Powell 
• Committee/On Water: Andrew Harrry
• Committee: Jody Lukeman
• Committee: Barry Walsh