January 6th to 13th 2001.
For those who have not sailed on Moreton Bay, or visited Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron (known as RQ), here is a small story on the place to race.
Moreton Bay is a large bay running north south. It is bordered by the large sand Islands of Moreton and Strabroke Islands. These keep out any ocean swells. As seen in this map,Trafalgar Bay is a part of Moreton Bay. It is very protected and has ultra flat water.
The small islands off Manly with their sand and coral reefs keep out the chop caused by either the NE sea breeze or SE isobatic winds. I believe it to be one of the flatest sea racing courses in Australia. The racing will be held in these flat waters of Trafalgar Bay. The race course area is at least 3 kilometers in diameter.The winds are very steady with few shifts.The sea breeze is a soft one at 10 to 18 knots (average about 12). The southerly breeze can be stronger and blow for a few days. Tidal effects are minimal.
It is perfect for Taipan Racing and that is why we have ten 4.9s racing at Darling Point Sailing Squadron (500 meters down the habour).
The bay is shallow at 3 to 4 meters and the water at this time of year is usally around 24 or 25 degrees.You will not need wet suits but sun protection is vital. The days will be 30 degrees every day with high humidity, the nights are warm and sticky (very good for XXXX drinking). That is why we do not plan to race before 12.00 mid-day.
You will see many turtles, dolphins and the occasional dugong. I have never seen a shark, there are no crocodiles or sea snakesbut there can be jelly fish. They don't sting much and their effect is only mildy annoying. At this time of year they have mostly disappeared and last year we had almost no jelly fish all season. If there are jelly fish they will not be near the surface when the wind is up. If they are present you may have trouble with the rod hold downs on your rudders.
RQ is the centre of sailing in Queensland and is situated in Manly about 20 minutes drive east of Brisbane. RQ is at the end of a 1000 boat marina and is very posh. Apart from big boat sailing they have a large dingy fleet with up to one hundred sailing each Saturday (Taipans are most welcome to come and sail with them as a lead up to the nationals). They have a guard at the gate to keep riff-raff out, which means most of the time us cat sailors can't get in. However the squadron could not be more helpful and obliging in their approach to our association and the national title.
The club has beautiful grounds, big grassed areas for rigging and very wide sheltered ramps for launching. There are a number of bars and eating areas, and a great BBQ wet bar facility. There is plenty of free parking and there will be good spectator boats. There are shops and chandleries very close by and the train to Brisbane is at the top of the steet.
Darling Point Sailing Squadron is close by and will be the camping ground for those who like to stay under canvas. At DPSS the bar will be open all week. Camping will cost you $8.00 per week and you book through me. A couple of 5 meter tin boats will taxi Taipan people to and from RQ through the marina. There will be a couple of social functions at the DPSS club house.
If you would like any more information or an entry form and notice of race, contact me at melliott@powerup.co.au or call me on 0414 402226. I hope to see you all at RQ.
David (Slimy) Elliott.
14/7/00
July 2000
Taipan Catamaran National Title 2001
2001 TAIPAN CATAMARAN AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
NOTICE OF REGATTA
The 2001 Taipan Catamaran Australian Championships will be held
on the waters adjacent of Trafalgar Bay, off Manly, Queensland
from Saturday the 6th of January through to Saturday the 13th of
January.
The organizing authority for the regatta is the Taipan Catamaran
Association of Queensland, in conjunction with the Royal
Queensland Yacht Squadron and conducted under the authority of
the Queensland Yachting Council.
1 RULES
The Regatta will be governed by the current ISAF Racing Rules of
Sailing, the prescriptions and special regulations of the AYF,
the rules of the Taipan Catamaran class, except as any of these
are altered by this Notice of Regatta and by the Sailing
Instructions.
2 ADVERTISING
The Regatta is classified as a Category "B" Event in
accordance with Appendix G4.
Where there is a conflict with an event sponsor, the organising
authority reserves the right to refuse advertising by a boat or
competitor.
3 ELIGIBILITY AND ENTRY
3.1 The Regatta is open to all boats of the Taipan Catamaran
Class as follows :
Taipan 4.9 Cat Rig, Taipan 4.9 Sloop Rig and Taipan 5.7 without
spinnaker.
Each boat shall hold a valid measurement certificate issued by
the relevant Taipan Class State Association (5.7 exempt)
Each entrant shall have a financial member of the relevant Taipan
Class State Association aboard the boat.
Each entrant shall be a financial member of a sailing club
affiliated to the AYF.
3.2 Eligible boats may enter using the attached Entry Form. Entry
Forms must be lodged, accompanied by the required Regatta Entry
Fee, by 1 December 2000 with :
The Secretary
Taipan Catamaran Association of Queensland
PO Box 2049, Wellington Point, Qld. 4160
3.3 All registrations received before 15 November 1999 will
receive a $25.00 discount and be entered into the "Early
Bird" draw. The winner of the "Early Bird" draw
will be announced at the 'Meet the Fleet' function on Saturday
6th of January 2001 and will obtain a full refund of the Regatta
Entry Fee.
4 FEES
4.1 Required Fees Payment prior to Payment after
15 November 2001 15 November 2001
Regatta Entry Fee - Cat Rig Boats $125.00 per boat $150.00 per
boat
Regatta Entry Fee -Sloop Rig Boats $160.00 per boat $190.00 per
boat
Entry fee includes free tickets to Meet the Fleet, the Irish
Shing-ding and to the 2001 Presentation Night for skippers and
crews.
All fees include GST.
5 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
5.1 Registration
Registration will take place at RQ at the following time,
Saturday the 6th of January 2001 8.00 am to 2.00 pm
5.2 Measurement
Measurement of boats will take place at the Royal Queensland
Yacht Squadron at the following time
Saturday the 6th of January 2001 8.00 am to 2.00 pm
Sunday the 7th of January 2001 By special request.
Each boat shall submit a valid measurement certificate issued by
the relevant Taipan Class State Association. (5.7's exempted)
Each boat will be weighed and inspected by the Measurement
Committee prior to competing. (5.7's exempted). There will be
spot checks and weighings of boats following racing. There will
be emphasis on well performed boats.
Each boat shall be limited to the following number of sails
during the regatta :
Cat rig boats : 1 mainsail only
Sloop rig boats : 1 mainsail and 2 jibs only
All sails shall be nominated and signed by the Measurement
Committee and may be measured prior to competing.
Any boat, including sails may be checked for class rule
compliance at any time during the regatta. Refer rules 4.9,4.10
and 4.11.
5.3 Racing
Invitation Race Saturday 6th of January 2001 3.00 pm
Heat 1 & 2 Sunday 7th of January 2001 after 12.00 midday
Heat 3 & 4 Monday 8th of January 2001 after 12.00 midday
Heat 5 & 6 Tuesday 9th of January 2001 after 12.00 midday
Heat 7 & 8 Wednesday 10th of January 2001 after 12.00 midday
Heat 9 & 10 Thursday 11th of January 2001 after 12.00 midday
Heats 11 & 12 Friday 12th of January 2001 after 11.00 am
Re-sails to be sailed at a time advised by the race committee.
There shall never be more than three races in one day.
No races will be started after 4.15pm on any day.
No warning signal will be made after 3.00pm on the last day of
racing
6 SAILING INSTRUCTIONS
The Sailing Instructions will be available on completion of
Registration.
7 SCORING
The "Low Point" scoring system, Appendix A.2 will
apply.
If four races are sailed, all four shall count.
If five races are sailed, four shall count.
If six races are sailed, five shall count.
If seven races are sailed, six shall count.
If eight races are sailed, seven shall count.
If nine races are sailed, seven shall count.
If ten races are sailed, eight shall count.
If eleven races are sailed, nine shall count
If twelve races are sailed, ten shall count
Four Races must be held to constitute a Championship.
8 COURSES
Courses will be in accordance with the championship rules, refer
7.1 through to 7.9.
9 PRIZES
Prizes will be awarded in each division. In addition, prizes may
be awarded to handicap winners and others as deemed appropriate.
10 LIABILTY
Competitors sail at their own risk. Injuries to competitors and
damage to boats can and often do happen. The organising authority
and all parties involved in the organisation of the 2001 Taipan
Catamaran Australian Championships regatta accept no
responsibility or liability
for any loss, damage or injury which may occur to any person or
property, whether ashore or afloat, as a consequence of
participation in the regatta or otherwise.
The organising authority and all parties involved in the regatta
disclaim any and all such liability.
11 INSURANCE
It is a condition of entry to the regatta that each boat shall
have third party liability insurance cover to a minimum value of
$5,000,000. Such insurance shall cover all risks arising during
the regatta, whether ashore or afloat.
11 FURTHER INFORMATION
For further information, please contact the following :
David Elliott Don Dull
Melliott@powerup.com.au 10 Suellin St. Boondall 4034
07 3822 3898 07 3216 2066
0414 402226