Well, what a great weekend that was!! Sorry we couldn't put a few more knots of breeze on for Sunday’s racing but we thought you all performed terrifically well in a great positive attitude for such an event -thank you!! So many members of the public who walked down along the Point over the weekend have commented on how wonderful it was to see the spinnakers filling the bay with the Bridge Backdrop!

You may not know but on Saturday one of our HHSC OptiDads, Tim Robinson walked around the boat park with his young son, absolutely delighted to see so many fast boats on the grass. Tim was the 2009 18’ skiff JJ Giltinan Trophy winner skipper and represented GBR at the 2000 Olympics in the 49er, and his eyes were lighting up at seeing so many teams enjoying their fast boat sailing.

If you would like to check out the results, they are here … http://sailingresults.com.au/ScoreItV2/Public/Templates/Default/index.php?event_id=740 … and there is a copy of the sign on sheet also attached so you can match up sail numbers to skippers!!!    

A few thank you's for the weekend :

• to our event sponsors BoatCrewGear and BoatRopes - these two businesses put a huge amount of time and effort into supporting youth sailing, and sailing in general, and are great friends of the HHSC - please do reach out to Andrew & Blake respectively for your equipment and clothing needs!
• to our Race Management Team - Steve Hay, Jon Byrne (who also kindly let us use his magnificent launch as the start boat), Darani Brown, Dereck Quinlan (who did the scoring and took some awesome shots from the start boat), Mike Giffney and, especially, young Sam Davis, whom as I mentioned yesterday, gave up his sailing to set marks and drive a rib, and was joined by young Nathan Byrne, who at 6’2" and growing has to be a priority draft pick for crew for a fearless midget 29er skipper!! Thanks all!!
• Our shore support team, especially our President Maria Quinlan on the BBQ on Sunday, Treasurer James Davis who came down to check if extra hands were required, Commodore Andrew Livermore and his son Nic who launched our RIBS, helped with the BBQ on Saturday and arranged for our RIBS to be stored overnight at the Woolwich Marina berth (thanks Idy and the team at Woolwich Marina!!);
• The Skiff crew, led by Nathan Edwards - Nathan and the team have been fantastic to deal with this past couple of months, and we were thrilled when he first emailed to say the 13’s were coming, and there was just a chance a 16 or two might be happening along!! Its not a world in which HHSC traditionally is engaged, and we loved the energy and enthusiasm, and complete generosity of the Skiff crew - you may not have noticed but there was a fully rigged 13 available for use yesterday - next year we will ensure that we have more kids racing around and jumping in and out of boats - but thank you all for making it “West of the Bridge” and really lighting up our Club and Sailing area generally;
• The 9er brigade - we’ve enjoyed working hard with the NSW 9er Association over the past several years getting kids into 9ers via the Association courses, and it was an absolute thrill to see three crews sail their first ever race series yesterday, along with many crews who have been through the Association training program over the past couple of years. Well done Mike and the hard working 9er committee - just brilliant. And it was great to see Dylan and Conor get the big 49er there and moving so well.
• To the Flying Ant team of Joel and Lanee Beashel, with Mitch Kruse crewing in the racing - well done all!! The new rig looks just sensational, and we can’t wait to see the new hulls come out of the PSA moulds this coming week!! We think the Ant has an exciting time ahead in its new configuration, and they all be out in force up the NSW Youths at the end of next month!
• To the Vics who made the power drive up on Friday, and went home Sunday with the prizes!!!! Great work Zac and Ethyn, and well done Pete getting them up and back safely!! We look forward to many more Vics making it north next year, and for the 9er events circuit generally over the next 12 months!
• And a huge thank you to the coaches who worked so hard over the weekend supporting, cajoling and shaping our sailors - great stuff!!

There are some superb photos floating around on social media - check out https://www.facebook.com/AussieSkiffs/ , Michael Chittenden’s facebook page (and his business website http://www.michael-chittenden-photography.com/ ) , the NSW&ACT 9ers FB page and of course, the HHSC FB page. If anyone has some shots they’d like to share - please post them and send a link!!!

All the very best for the season ahead in your respective classes - I know I will be keeping an eye out for results and action in even more classes than I normally look out for after seeing the 13’s and 16’s in action - and all of us at Hunters Hill Sailing Club look forward to welcoming you (and more of your ASSY mates) in 2019 - pencil in 24/25 August 2019!!!!! We might even be able to nudge the Cherubs, 12s and 14’s out to play, and an 18 or two?? And maybe a Musto skiff??

By Chris Stannage

Photo Facebook:Aussie Skiffs