AusWeta News - February 2018: Port Kembla Blows Up | Reports| Videos |Events |Tips, bits, tricks and tests

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Report: Port Kembla Blows Up

Three Wetas took Ian Richardson's invitation to visit his club for some flat water sailing on Lake Illawarra with some wind this time - after the previous attempt turned into a soggy drifter.
The weather was perfect before the start but then the wind arrived, and it built and built until we could see the white horses looking down the lake from the clubhouse which was sheltered by trees.
"We're going to get slammed" Peter remarked as we launched. And we were!
The shallow water meant a steep chop soon built up and with the wind coming off the land there were vicious gusts with 10 degree shifts. We all had a few close shaves while waiting for the start and Geoff soon decided that "survival mode" wasn't for him and he came in before racing was cancelled.
Ian, Paul and Peter decided to have their own unofficial race but Paul already had a captive nut break loose on a jib cleat which he managed to fix temporarily, but half way up the first beat it came out again and with the cleat dangling off the sheet, he had to come in.
Peter was narrowly ahead as they rounded the top mark but a big gust caused Peter to nose dive on the reach. He had caught up with Ian on the next rounding but another big gust caused the boat to turtle with the mast stuck in the mud. Peter managed to get it up but now had a "Lake Illawarra choc-top" mainsail which was showering him and the boat with mud.
Both Peter and Ian decided to come in at this point and Peter had to spend an hour cleaning the sail and boat to remove the mud.
We will try again as Ian has promised they do have nice breeze usually!
Report: Ian Richardson/Paul White

Close quarters on Sydney Harbour

Swept Away at Bundaberg

Three Weta sailors take on an epic 300 nautical mile Everglades Challenge, USA

OK so this event wasn't in Australia but wouldn't it be great if we could have a similar event. A Weta has already sailed 350Km from Townsville to Cairns.

The Everglades Challenge is an unsupported race down the West coast of Florida, USA from Tampa Bay to Key Largo which attracts a wide range of experienced sailing and paddling people and craft – from the home-built to production boats. This year the 95 participants included Olympian and US-sailing "Hall of Fame" member Randy Smythe in his self-designed trimaran Synergy, attempting the even longer Ultimate Florida challenge around the coast and across the top of the State via rivers and canals.

The three Wetas entered included:
o Scott Finley (aka CaptJackOtter) – Very experienced lake sailor. His third attempt in the Weta after equipment damage forced him out in previous years.
o Dan Davies (DanO) – Experienced Weta owner and racer but new to the Everglades Challenge
o Mark Ellison (Triman) - First attempt in the Weta but he is the current Everglades Challenge record holder in the Hobie TI class 

After a weather delay due to a US Coast Guard "Small Craft Advisory" because of strong winds, the event started at 9pm on Saturday 3rd March, with competitors required to push their boats into the water from the high water mark on the beach. Most had already reefed for the start including the Wetas. 

Day one started with an easy reach out of Tampa Bay and down the coast through Stump Pass to the first checkpoint located in a marina in the Intracoastal Waterway. Dan Davies used his racing experience and modified larger rig to good effect to establish a small lead over Mark Ellison who could use his prior course experience for navigation.

Dan arrived at Check Point 1 (CP1) at 5.49pm and left after a short rest at 6.00 pm but then came the challenge of negotiating the bridges and shallows of the Intercostal Waterway and so at 9pm he pulled into a sheltered cove to get some rest. Mark arrived at CP1 shortly after Dan and elected to spend the night there and left at 6.20 the next morning to overtake Dan who was still preparing to set sail.

The two swapped places a number of times down the course and Dan made a few rookie navigational errors which allowed Mark to catch up, despite breaking his carbon bowsprit which meant he had no gennaker. Battling fatigue, they picked their way through the shoals and narrows of Florida Bay and ended up staying overnight just 1.5 Miles apart with only 15 Miles left to the finish. However, Ellison was first to break camp at 4.15am and finished the event a mere 30 minutes ahead of Davies who was using his additional sail area to catch up. 

Meanwhile, after hugging the coast most of the way, Scott Finlay was having some navigational problems of his own – although managing to sail the Weta very effectively despite being one of the older participants in the event . Alas he failed to make the deadline for the finish and is resting up nearby. 

First placed Weta sailor, Mark Ellison.More about the Weta entries here
More about the Everglades Challenge here

Australian Weta Class Association Report