Recently, MCYS members John Hall (RC – Sail) and son (and recent new member) Andrew Hall sailed in the 39th S80 State Titles sailed at RMYS.
The S80 is a “one design” class meaning that all boats are essentially the same within the class rules, the only difference being sails and crew. The S80 was designed by great Australian naval architect Kim Swarbrick in West Australia where the class started.
John skippered “Runamuk” M 451 Jon Phillip’s boat from Mornington as Jon requested being unable to sail. John was the previous owner of an S80 “The Law Firm” from MYC in the early 2000’s. Sadly, John’s old boat was wrecked in a North Westerly storm at Mornington when her mooring broke and she was destroyed on the rocks in 2006.
Having not helmed an S80 for 20 years, it took a few races to get back into form!
Results were 4th overall with Runamuk and crew improving over the series, as was the case with most boats.
Runamuk heads to the finish!
Spinnaker sets were important in the series with Windward-Leward races of 1 to 3 laps. Andrew in full flight on the foredeck!
Andrew and John at RMYS after the Regatta – no, we didn’t drink all of those pints!
“One-Design” class racing is exceptional. The competition just got better and better. We got better and better!
Thanks to son Andrew for brilliant foredeck work, and to MCYS member Andrew Arblaster who sailed Saturday’s three races.
If we had a few more races, we would have ended with a bullet. We were so close in Race 5 having lead at every mark, but came 3rd after a pressure drop on the final windward work when we had the wrong headsail up!
The racing was close with seconds separating the top 5 boats.
Thanks to the always great team at RMYS for a faultless regatta. Thanks also to owner Jon Phillips for inviting me to skipper “Runamuk”.
Next year’s State titles will be the 40th anniversary States, and the S80 Association is hoping for a great event with over 20 boats.
John Hall
