SOPS & BWPS
A GREAT OFFSHORE SEASON
CLUB YACHTING
Another season has passed us by but what a great season it was for the Offshore Blue Water Point Score ( BWPS ) and Short Offshore Point Score ( SOPS ) fleets . No abandoned races , only a few postponed starts and in most cases , the majority of the fleet got home in time . Special thanks must go to the on water volunteers who provide us with the opportunity to race . Thank you ! And rather than have more pictures of boats – here are some our finest volunteers ( on the right .) Apologies to those who also supported our racing but are not in this photo .
Rather than list the place getters across the different fleets and handicaps , in the interests of participation and just having fun – the place getting boats at the top of the ladder in alphabetical order were Conspiracy , High Anxiety , OCL , Pretty Woman , Real Thing , Sticky , Windy Too and XS Moment . Well done to all participants .
With about a dozen boats racing in the SOPS series throughout the season but a lessor number in the BWPS , we have a strong fleet – the backbone of the Club ’ s excellence in offshore sailing . Interesting to note by comparison that the CYCA Ocean Point Score ( as opposed to their BWPS ) only had about a dozen consistent competitors across the 2015 - 16 season .
The coming season will see a similar format to last year with six BWPS races , one drop and 10 races , two drops for SOPS . We are looking to try a variation to a couple of races to entice some of the Broken Bay , Fleet 1 out to join us . Further , the Cabbage Tree / Boondlebah Island race is likely to change and involve a trip down to Port Hacking . Finally , the Terrigal mark is going to be moved a little south to shorten this course . Sea breezes just don ’ t seem to be what they used to be . Stay tuned for further details .
In signing off for the 2015 - 16 season , thanks must also go to Bob Bennett for his role as Offshore fleet co-captain . Welcome to Marcus Grimes , who will support Chris Grant going forward .
CHRIS GRANT
20 YACHTSMAN