Koombana Bay Regatta 3rd,4th and 5th March 2012

Still touted as the best way to spend the Labour Day long weekend in WA the annual Koombana Bay Sailing Club regatta in Bunbury did not disappoint. The relaxing weekend started on Friday night with a road trip to Koombana Bay Caravan Park. Setting up the tent and then cracking a beer was a great way to start the long weekend (some of the earlier arrivals had got stuck into red wine making many cooks in the tent assembly kitchen).

 It was a slow start on Saturday, ambling over to the club to get ready for the 2 O’clock start meant for a relaxing start to the weekend. The plan was to have 2 races Saturday afternoon, 1 Sunday morning and 2 Sunday Afternoon. Cows with Guns (David Meehan and Tiffany Felstead) had an excellent start to the regatta winning the first two heats on Saturday in a perfect 8 to 12 knots.

 Sunday morning was a rushed start, due to a longer than expected wait for coffees in Town, but we made the start, storming to the lead very quickly. The breeze was a bit lighter for this race, 4 to 8 knots. An executive decision by the majority of the fleet meant that Sunday afternoon’s racing was cancelled for the Tasar fleet, replaced with a trip to the Ferguson valley to visit a winery. The Moody Cow Brewery (no affiliation with Cows with Guns) is a great place to enjoy a meal and a nice beer.

 Monday morning was the dash for cash, the conditions were perfect for the Tasar fleet now boosted by the current state champion Unleashed (Scott and Julie Olsen), who sailed an excellent race to win the Yardstick event beating all other classes in the optimal conditions for the Tasar.

Thanks to KBSC for hosting the regatta, hopefully next year we get an even better turn out of boats.

 PS if you are thinking of staying in a cabin rather than camping next year, you will need to book now!

Koombana Bay Regatta 5th,6th and 7th March 2011

The TAWA South West regatta weekend was a social success....
7 Tasars turned up to sail in some varying and challenging conditions at Koombana Bay Sailing Club over the Labour Day long weekend. The club is located in Bunbury, 175 km South West of Perth. The friendly laid-back family environment, protected flat waters and four races over three days makes this event TAWA’s annual social regatta.
Heat 1 - An uncharacteristic 20 to 25 knot seabreeze and large swell tested all the sailors on Saturday afternoon.  The course was located well north of the club the fleet was in open water with some massive waves rolling through.
The whole tasar fleet ventured out to the race course, sadly the conditions proved too extreme with only 3 boats finishing the race. Unleashed finished first, Liquid Asset second and Cows with Guns third. Unfortunately Liquid Asset was caught cutting a corner and subsequently retired.
The race provided many spectacular capsizes providing some good stories for the Tasar fleet dinner at a local Thai restaurant.
Heat 2 -  Saw all 7 Tasars start in 10-12 knot breeze.
Unleashed and Liquid Asset got the jump on the fleet and fought out the race clear of the fleet to finish first and second.
Bungarra, Prickle Foot, Cows with Guns, Pigeon and Butterfly Effect tussled for the remaining places with positions regularly changing on each leg.
The final placing were only decided at the finish line when the Pigeon (obviously not the homing kind) got lost and had to re-sail though the finish line.
Heat 3 – Another 20 knot sea breeze came in and Sunday afternoon’s race was not sailed due to TAWA’s measurer instigating a mass exodus to a nearby winery in the Ferguson valley.
Heat 4 - Monday morning’s race can be summed up by a quote from the radio conversation between the committee boats “there’s 0 to 3 knots of breeze from no particular direction, over”.  The PRO unfased by this promptly got the start sequence underway. After a downwind start the shore breeze picked up making it a tricky race in light airs.
The first two legs were a testament to the tricky conditions. Cows with Guns lead Unleashed and Pigeon around the windward mark. However around the clearance mark the first three boats reversed the positions. Unleashed escaped the pack on the downwind leg with Bungarra closing in fast on Pigeon and Cows with Guns.
Unleashed came first with Bungarra hot on their heels, Pigeon third, Cows with Guns fourth, Butterfly effect fifth, Liquid Asset sixth.
Overall it was 3 excellent days of fun with some sailing.

HEAT 3 OF THE 2010 TRAVELLERS SERIES 

5 Tasars made the trip down to Mandurah for the final heat of the 2010 Travellers Series.  The programme of 3 races was shortened to 2 following light and variable winds.  Lloyd and Fiona in Bungarra lead the fleet in the first heat, finishing with a 6 minute lead.  Kayne and Louise took out 1st in the second race and took first place for the day.

15 boats participated in the series

Overall Results

1st   Spinifex Pigeon  Roger and Kate Best

2nd   Unleashed  Scott and Julie Olsen

3rd   Lovers and Sinners Brad and Kelly Peaker and Rachel