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AusWeta News - January 2018: Report: Lake Cootharaba SC Weta Challenge | Race Video: How to beat a Dutchman | Tips, Tricks and Events.
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Welcome to the Australian Weta Class Newsletter

This regular newsletter aims to give you the best of the Australian Weta news and to share tips, tricks and information that can make your Weta sailing more enjoyable.

Preview: Sydney Harbour Weta Championship 2017-18

Hosted by Woollahra Sailing Club at Rose Bay and including both short and distance races - including the infamous Three Islands Challenge (see proposed course below). BBQ and free refreshments on Saturday.
Free Weta branded Water Bottle Cooler/Halyard Bag for all entrants.
First race 1pm Saturday, 10.45am Sunday (for those that have to get away)
Secure boat parking available Low cost accomodation nearby.
Full NOR here

Report: Lake Cootharaba SC Weta Challenge 2017


Report: Hamish Uquhart
The weather was not very promising in the week before the Race Series and access roads were flooded on Friday. However 12 Wetas turn up on the Saturday and we had our own start after the rest of the fleet.  It was terrific to see 11 Wetas on the start line together including Roger Kitchen, MD of Weta Marine, who was making a guest visit. He sailed Laurie Armstrong’s boat for two of the races on Saturday, while Laurie was otherwise engaged.

The weather settled nicely into a fairly steady ENE at an average of 18 knots, which was a bit fresh for Mitchell Foley (age 12) but provided great sport for the rest of the fleet. Courses had a 0.5 nm windward leg and were the traditional “Triangle, Sausage, Triangle” with the Start/Finish 1/3rd of the way up the work.

Saturday’s racing was fast and furious taking just over 30mins for the first boat round. Glen Foley lead from the start in the first race but was chased hard by Peter Hackett racing his Weta for the first time and coming in with a second and Michael (Knuckles) Grieve crossing for third. (Peter is more used to racing his F22 on the Multi circuit so has plenty experience with competition.)

Race 2 again saw Glen take honours with Knuckles Grieve 15 seconds behind him followed by veteran Dave Vockler.  Peter Hackett had to retire with a damaged rudder and subsequently was not competitive with his original design rudder.

Race 3 saw Knuckles get the better of Glen for a great win with Hamish Urquhart in third.

Everyone was very energised but exhausted by the days racing and enjoyed a few drinks and very tasty dinner at the Clubhouse before, what was at least for me, an early night.

Sunday dawned with the Lake smooth as glass and everyone drifted out to the start hoping for some sort of a breeze. Storms were forecast for later in the day so the Race Committee was keen to get racing started. Eventually a light breeze settled in from the WSW and it became possible to set a course and get the fleets away. The breeze stayed in for the first lap but then dropped away to a drift for the second lap, eventually shifting to ENE. A decision was made to shorten the course and the start boat moved to enable a good course to be set for the second race. Glen showed great consistency to win with Dave Vockler and Knuckles making up the places. 

The wind settled nicely for the afternoon race with an ENE at 15 knots. Like the Saturday races it was fast and furious with some of the tightest racing of the regatta. Again Glen showed his skills with a good win and then there was only 40 seconds between 2nd and 6th with Dave Vockler again taking second from Geoff Smith in third. 

By the end of the race the Lake was surrounded by thunder storms so the last race was cancelled and we all made our way to the beach to pack up in good, warm, Queensland rain.

The final result for the series was a fine win for Glen Foley from Knuckles Grieve in second, Dave Vockler third and Hamish in fourth. Sue Germain, LCSC Rear Commodore had some nice words to say about the Weta Fleet at the presentation and I’m sure we will be welcome back next year. 

It was a shame that the weather was a bit fresh for Mitchell Foley who only completed one race on Saturday. I’m sure he will soon be one to watch on the water. Angela Gregory sailed all races and, although the weather conditions didn’t suit her, it was great to see her out there competing.
Full results here

How to beat a Dutchman
The Paul White takes on the Open Fleet at Woollahra Sailing Club in Sydney Harbour 
You can review the track and 3D replay of this race on RaceQs here
RaceQs is free and gives interesting performance analysis using a Smartphone app or GPS track.

Geoff's Weta and Friends Videos
Like Paul, NSW Weta Class Rep, Geoff Waldron, sails with a video camera pole-mounted on the stern and another on the bowsprit and has a slew of videos as a result. If you have a waterproof action camera and can produce video but lack editing skills, Paul White can edit them for you. If you don't have a camera, you can get the Warrior G1 for only  $120 with a 6 hour battery life. Add a roll-bar mount and put it on the bowsprit. Great for self coaching or just for sharing the fun.

New Weta Spinnaker


Weta Class Association President, Hamish Urquhart  was testing this at Lake Cootharaba.

Australian Weta Class Association Report

President's Report
After some delay , AWCA is now incorporated as an Association and registered with Australian Sailing (AS). While this will cost the class $220 pa it will allow members to use the AS MyClass site to make payment for class fees. It has been a bit of a struggle until recently as AS has finally waived the $800 requirement for Public Liability Insurance, which was very onerous for small classes. 
I have tentatively put the Wetas down for National Titles at Lake Cootharaba SC for December/January for 2020/21 season. The lead time gives us lots of space to round up a good fleet: Minimum fleet will be 20 boats but I’m sure in three years we should be able to achieve a lot more than that. It also gives us time to let everyone know about the accommodation and camping which is available there with Noosa and Noosaville only 20 minutes drive down the road. LCSC is popular for regattas as it is a fine family venue with something for everyone including great shopping in Hastings street!
It will also give us time to look at how we are going to format the regatta: We just had the Mosquitos with three starts - 3 in the first start, 7 in the second and 6 in the third start. Are there going to be enough two ups to make a separate fleet viable? Do we want to have a SQ division and Pin head division or by then all be sailing with SQs? Lots of questions to be settled but I think we should look at this as a chance to show case the class in a wonderful setting. 
Billy Korneef and I are heading to Sydney for the 20-21st at Woollahara SC and hope to see a good turn out of the NSW and ACT Wetas. We also hope to hold a Class Association meeting during the event. If we can travel all that way etc etc…….
Glen Foley has four new foam-core Performance boats being delivered next month, one of which is already sold. We also have a new Weta at LCSC owned by Andrew Wiltshire but it is heading to Sydney where they live full time so I hope he gets in touch with the guys down there.
Kind regards
Hamish Urquhart, AWCA Secretary
hamishurquhart48@gmail.com

TO JOIN THE ASSOCIATION COMPLETE THE APPLICATION FORM HERE and send it to secretary@awca.org.au
Class Association documents can be found here.

Upcoming Events

Jan 20 – 21, 2018 Sydney Harbour Weta Championship (NOR)
Woollahra SC, 2 Vickery Ave, Rose Bay NSW 2029, Australia
Two day event for Weta sailors around Sydney harbour incorporating the Three Islands Challenge.
Jan 26 – 27 Mannering Park Open Cat Regatta
Mannering Park ASC,  27 Grace St, Mannering Park NSW 2259, Australia
Jan 26 Australia Day Marathon Race
Kurnell Catamaran Club Inc, 2 Ward St, Kurnell NSW 2231, Australia
Annual Marathon Race around Botany Bay

Effortless Bowline

If you find yourself all fingers and thumbs when trying to tie a bowline, forget the rabbit and tree method and use the double loop alternative instead which is faster and means you're less likely to make a mess of it.
Video tutorial here
 

Returning to a downwind ramp in a blow.

Wetas and ramps (or stony beaches) don't mix well and you can easily damage your hull or amas if they make contact.
But how do you get back without damage if the breeze is up and the waves are breaking straight onto it?
The solution is to use the skiff method to reverse onto the ramp and then put the boat straight onto the trolley. 
Paul White has created an instruction video here.
Wetas for Sale
One of the best built boats from the original factory with a heap of extras. Factory approved (removable) outboard bracket means you can take this boat cruising/fishing to your favourite place. All sails look and feel new, tiller and many other bits are changed to match the winning boats at the recent World Masters games in NZ, making the boat safer and faster.
AWCA Resources
Discussion Forum, Used Weta Buyers Guide, Weta Wiki - everything you need to know
Facebook Page - Public Page, Like for updates, share photos/reports;
Facebook Group - AWCA members discussion
Weta Events Calendar - Add your event or share which events you're attending.
News, reviews, tips and reports to ausweta@gmail.com
Copyright © 2018 Australian Weta Class, All rights reserved.


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