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Published on : 20 Feb 2005
Article By: Jeremy Hoh
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2nd
SAFYC Changi Regatta
Date of event: 29 & 30 Jan, 2005
Venue: Sea Sports Centre
With the inception of the Changi Regatta last year, we introduced
a first of its kind race format spanning 2 weekends and up to
12 races. The 2005 regatta saw a conventional reversion
to the standard regatta format of single weekend racing, with
the modern twist being 11am starts on both days instead of
the usual Saturday 2pm start, Sunday 11am start.
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DAY
1
A great start to the regatta with fine weather - light winds
that graced the earlier part of the day soon built up as atmospheric
pressures increased and the day heated up. We had been on water
as early as 0945hrs to get wind direction readings to chart
the general layout and determine the course.
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Once the winds began to settle, mainly around the north/ northeasterly
direction, Uncle Tony leapt into action and started directing
the team of mark boats into position to lay what would be a
near perfect course for the first two races of the day. As Uncle
Tony was in total synchronicity with the course laying, the
race committee boat swung into position to prepare for the start.
As soon as the anchor was dropped and the start line set, Tracey
Tan, the Principal Race Officer (PRO) proceeded to brief her
team of officials on board on their specific roles and for different
types of scenarios expected. As the 11am start time approached,
slight wind direction shift of 20-25 degrees meant the shifting
of marks slightly as Uncle Tony once again began to orchestrate
the marks. Within 5 mins of the original start time, the sailors
were flagged off and race 1 was under way with only slight delay
due to wind shift. Race 2 started soon as the boats finished
race 1 without much ado, although midway through the race, abrupt
wind shift followed by no wind could have meant the shortening
of the race. Ultimately, however, the winds obeyed and the race
was completed.
Windy luck ran out just before the start of race 3, with the
ethereal element deciding to run amok for some capricious fun.
A fair bit of delay was caused in having to relay the course.
The wind eventually settled, and race 3 concluded on schedule.
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DAY
2
Fine weather once more, making it a total of
4 races completing the final day, and bringing it to a total
of 7 races as scheduled for the regatta. In accordance with
the trend for failing winds at the tail end of the day, the
race committee was forced to shorten the last leg of the race
in the Byte class at mark 2 for the final race of the regatta. |
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Bouquets
and Brickbats
The 2nd SAFYC Changi
Regatta marks the first time the Club has run a wholly internally
managed regatta. The performance of our Principal Race Officer,
Tracey and her team of ’rookie’ race managers was on par with
those delivered by seasoned players.
The genesis of the bold idea to run the race internally and
having Tracey as PRO - with this author assisting - came about
one night over beers. Tracey will be glad to verify this. It
took us a while to pep talk ourselves into rising to the occasion,
but there was nothing another couple beers couldn’t solve.
Special thanks to Uncle Tony for allowing us to tap on his expertise
in course laying. Last but not least, a very heartfelt Thank
You to all the volunteers that turn up for most of our events,
raring and ready to go under the baking rock, responding gamely
to anything thrown at them and more, receiving only ‘gone cold’,
‘bungkus’ and less than Evians for survival. I can’t ramble
on in appreciation of the services rendered by all you hardened
volunteers or it would fill the entire page! But on behalf of
the SAF Yacht Club, the sailors and the sport of sailing, you
have been
and will be appreciated.
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| Those
of you out there who are keen on helping out in other related
club events please feel free to contact the club, as we are
always in need of volunteers. |
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| Criteria: |
Physically fit.
Love of sailing and the sea.
Willingness to experience unfamiliar ground (or water, as some
would say). |
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| Benefits:
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Insight on sailing
and race management.
Healthy tan.
Great on-water F/B dining experience (this is hotly debatable).
Sun, sea and the sand.
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Those
of you who have attained your PPCDL and need to put in the practice,
here’s your chance to be attached to someone experienced that
can show you the ropes.
Click here for race
results |
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