Elliott 7 - Airlie Beach Race Week 2011

Report on Airlie Beach Race Week 2011.

Two Elliot 7’s competed in this year’s Airlie Beach Race Week. Class newbie Tim Roberts from Victoria in Va Va Voom and Mike Green in Evergreen.

Airlie Beach Race Week marks the beginning of the northern regatta circuit and is an ideal introduction to the benefits of sailing in the protected waters of Pioneer Bay off Airlie Beach over freezing your “buts off” in mid-winter in the southern and western states. The regatta, which includes a mixture of bay racing, around the buoys races and long distance races around the adjacent islands has now been included in next year’s Elliot 7 Calender. Airlie Beach owes its origins to Don Algie (of Hog's Breath Café fame) over 22 years ago as a fun regatta and nothing has changed.

The Racing

The Sports boat class attracted 21 entries racing under the SMS handicap system. The boat types ranged from Elliot 7’s (the oldest design) through Thompson 7’s, Magic 25’s, Melges 24’s to the latest light weight Shaw 650’s, Egan 7’s and Sports 8’s.

As well as competing in one division, the fleet was broken down to two sub divisions loosely termed Heavy weight ( Elliot 7’s, Thompson 7’s, Magic 25’s, Melges 24’s etc.) and Light weight (the rest).

The SMS handicap system has very accurately assessed the speed differential of the various types of boats and corrected time differences of seconds could mean the difference of three to four places in each heat.

The series included 10 races (9 to count) and was conducted over seven days, with one lay day. Winds where predominantly a little stronger than normal 14 to 20 knots for the first five days, moderating to normal trades (10 to 14 knots) on day six and down to 6-10 knots on day seven.

 

The Results

Mike, Ian, Adam and Pod in Evergreen, clinched a win overall on the final day of racing (they had been praying for lighter airs all regatta) finished 5th overall (beating all of the T7’s and M24’s and new Shaw 650’s) and finished 2nd to the modified Magic 25 in the “heavy weight” division.

Tim and his boys and girls came to the regatta with no pretentions or expectations – they came to learn and have fun – they did both.

The Verdict

Everything it is cracked up to be – great weather, great racing, great great fun.

Can’t wait till next year – bring it on.

Mike and Tim.