The second Metro series race was held at the Royal Perth Yacht Club, racing for the Max Hayes memorial trophy. With the threat of rain and blustery conditions, crews were kept on their toes. Itinerant strode out to an early lead, however some impressive equipment failure had them in management mode, and they were quickly overtaken.
The Black Smoke made it first around North Point Walter, and managed to keep the lead, despite persistent chasing by a very close fleet. Farr Far Away overtook Itinerant just metres before the line, to finish second, with The Black Smoke coming home first and fastest.
The summer season started off with Heat 1 of the Metro Series, racing out of Royal Perth Yacht Club. This first heat was again scheduled on the weekend following RPYC’s Opening Day. The break from tradition has been welcomed by the fleet, and leaves the skippers and crews free to enjoy the party and then get on with the serious racing the following weekend.
Unfortunately, it seems the fleet was a little too serious and eager, with everyone arriving at the start line almost a full minute early. The resulting loops and dips provided a mixed up the start, and we were off and racing. The Black Smoke picked the northern side of the river, ignoring the fleet, and was rewarded. She was then expertly chased down by last season’s Championship winner Itinerant who finished fastest, followed closely by Farrlap, who took out the first flag.
Handicaps will be carried over from the previous Metro season results and sailing instructions, courses and any supplemental information will be emailed to skippers prior to each Heat.
The Farr 9.2 Association held its annual Prize Night on Sunday the 31st of July. Trophies and prizes were presented for the 2022 State Championships, the 2021-2022 Metro Series overall results, the Ladies Skipper race and other special races we had throughout the season.
The overall results for the Metro series were as follows:
The Farr 9.2 State Championships for 2022 were held over the March long weekend, racing at Owen Anchorage. In a change from our usual championship racing down at Cockburn Sound, we joined the S80 and S97 fleets for a combined state championships event, hosted by Royal Perth Yacht Club at the Fremantle Annex.
A huge thank you to all the staff, volunteers and sponsors for putting together such a great event, and making all us 9.2 newcomers feel welcome. While the COVID related cancellation of the social events limited the off-water revelry, the racing was extremely competitive, with the championship decided on countback. Well done to all the skippers and crews, who embraced the challenges of the new location (and the extra day of racing!).
We had a number of generous prize sponsors for our State Championships racing:
If you’re looking for an opportunity to join our Farr 9.2 fleet, this is your chance! Seahawk is looking for a new owner.
Seahawk is currently based in Perth, Western Australia, penned at the Royal Perth Yacht Club. We have a vibrant fleet of Farr 9.2s, with many racing and social events held throughout the year.
Bruce Farr design 9.20 – a competitive one-design fractional-rigged racer/cruiser, fast racing at the same time, safe, comfortable family cruising, easily driven and stable.
Seahawk has a successful racing history which includes winning several Farr 9.2 Championships:
2012 Farr 9.2 Metro Series Champion
2016 RPYC Club Champion
2019 Farr 9.2 State Champion
2021 Farr 9.2 Metro Series Champion
The vessel is well maintained and has had a major mechanical service and a new heat exchanger fitted recently. The engine is 15hp Nanni Diesel with a shaft drive and feathering prop. Standing rigging was replaced 4 years ago and turnbuckles all replaced 2 years ago. Survey reports, receipts and manuals are all available.
Seahawk features a comprehensive sail wardrobe, ready for racing and cruising:
Racing mainsail: fully battened, in good condition
Cruising mainsail: average condition
Racing #1, #2 & #3 headsails: good condition, but well used
Cruising #1 & #2 headsails
Racing spinnaker: near new, in excellent condition
Cruising spinnaker: fair condition
Shy spinnaker: fair condition
Other inclusions:
Two spinnaker poles, one new.
Plough anchor, chain and new warp to RRS Special Regulations standards.
Raymarine instruments replaced a few years ago.
EPIRB
VHF radio
Stereo sound system
Stainless folding ladder attached to sugar scoop stern
Fresh water shower at stern.
Compass
Heavy & light sheets for genoa and spinnaker, tweakers and mooring lines
Galley features:
Insulated icebox
Stainless steel sink
Two-burner gas stove and oven
Gas sniffer
Two water tanks
Interior fit out:
Standard wooden lockers
5 berths with storage under
Full set of mattress cushions in good condition covered in Seahawk green
Navigation desk
Fold-down table in main cabin
Full length shelves and lockers behind bunks in main cabin
Cubicle with toilet and basin
You would be joining the vibrant Farr 9.2 fleet, with plenty of opportunities for one-design racing events: the Farr 9.2 Metro Series, over each season on the Swan River, and the annual Farr 9.2 State Championships, held in Fremantle. The association also conducts social and non-racing events throughout the year, and can offer plenty of support for new members of the fleet.
Price: $43,000 neg. – recently reduced!
Contact Pat Jones pgancj@iinet.net.au Mobile: 0478 638 848 Home: 08 9252 1260
In the previous edition of the Farr 9.2 report, we had just completed heats four and five of the Farr 9.2 Metro Series, and were preparing for the State Championships in March. Since then, the metro series has continued into heats six and seven, and some very close racing in the State Championships made for a great weekend. Read on for details.
Farr 9.2 fleet at the State Championships 2022. Photo courtesy of Lindsay Preece at Ironbark Photos.
Going into heat six, the standings for the Swan River Metro series had Itinerant (Mark Hansen) in first position, with Elusive (Richard Brisbane-Cohen) and Seahawk (Pat Jones) only a handful of points behind. Being just over half-way through the series, the trophy is far from decided at this stage. Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club (RFBYC) hosted the fleet for heat six, with a refreshing return to typical summer sea-breeze conditions after a week of hot and still afternoons. Farr Far Away (James Baker), sailing a brand-new number one jib, broke out first for an early lead, but it was Elusive who caught up soon after and managed to hold their first place across the finish.
Consistency results for heat six had Frenzy (Murray Rowe) first, Farrlap (Andrew Hossen) second and The Black Smoke (Jeremy Kerr) third. All of the placing teams managed to rush back from the finish line to their pens, and then over to RFBYC, making for a great representation of the fleet at presentation of results.
With their win in heat six, Elusive is now only four points behind Itinerant in the championship standings, and is building up inertia with two firsts in a row.
On to heat seven in late February, hosted by South of Perth Yacht club (SoPYC) as part of their Saturday afternoon racing series. Team Itinerant was unable to compete, instead on the hardstand for some much-needed repairs in preparation for the upcoming state championships. This leaves the door wide open for a change in series leader, especially with Elusive on their current winning streak. The day’s conditions were another classic sea breeze, giving the fleet plenty of opportunity for strategic sailing on the upwind reaches. All three of Farr Far Away, Elusive, and Lionheart (Warren Westaway) exchanged lead over the course of the day, with Elusive managing to hold it into Como and across the finish line, with Lionheart only eight seconds behind. Consistency results had Lionheart first, Frenzy second and Farr Far Away third. Being fastest across the line, Elusive extend their streak of consecutive wins to three, and they now overtake Itinerant into first place in the series.
The final two heats of the Swan River Metro Series will be held in late March and mid-April, and are sure to feature some very competitive racing for the series trophy. We’ll keep you updated on results!
Leaving the familiar surroundings of Melville Waters for a few days, the Farr 9.2 fleet ducked under the Fremantle bridges to head out to the annual State Championships, this year at RPYC Annex. Recent history had the racing held in Cockburn Sound, hosted by The Cruising Yacht Club (TCYC). This year we had diverged from tradition and joined the S80 and S97 fleets for a combined state championships event, with eight races over three days in Owen Anchorage.
Seahawk sailing in the Farr 9.2 State Championship. Photo courtesy of RPYC.
Even through there was a last-minute (COVID-induced) reduction in social plans over the states weekend, we felt very welcomed by the S80 and S97 teams in joining their regular event, which by now has become a very slick operation, very much made possible by the generous contributions of a team of volunteers. We would like to extend our thanks for all for making this such a successful states weekend for us 9.2 newcomers.
After three days of extremely competitive windward/leeward racing, the championship points were equal between first and second place, with the winner being decided on countback. Podium results were:
Farr 9.2 State Championships – championship:
Itinerant (Mark Hansen)
Elusive (Richard Brisbane-Cohen)
The Black Smoke (Jeremy Kerr)
Farr 9.2 State Championships – consistency:
Farrlap (Andrew Hossen)
Frenzy (Murray Rowe)
Lionheart (Warren Westaway)
The Black Smoke, Itinerant and Elusive sailing in the Farr 9.2 State Championships. Photo from Lindsay Preece of Ironbark Photos
In other news, the Farr 9.2 Farrago has recently found a new owner in Gerald Bergsma. After a long stint at RFBYC, Gerald has sailed Farrago closer to home at Mandurah Offshore Fishing and Sailing Club, and is planning to get out racing in club events, in addition to a few upgrades for the cruising too. While Farrago isn’t likely to joining us for many river races, we’re looking forward to have another 9.2 out for some ocean sailing. Welcome to the fleet, Gerald!
Farr Far Away put in a dominating performance, finishing more than 2 minutes ahead of their nearest rivals! A great result and pretty uncommon in our usually very close fleet. Well done to skipper and crew!
Thanks to RFBYC for hosting us this season, and we look forward to it all again next year.
Sail
Boat
Skipper
Hcap
Elapsed
Corrected
Over line
On Hcap
Code
R181
Farr Far Away
James Baker
0.5642
02:18:25
01:18:06
1
1
FIN
R192
Frenzy
Murray Rowe
0.5446
02:24:27
01:18:40
4
2
FIN
R1920
Lionheart
Warren Westaway
0.5589
02:23:26
01:20:10
3
3
FIN
R100
Itinerant
Mark Hansen
0.5757
02:20:50
01:21:05
2
4
FIN
R267
Elusive
Richard Brisbane-Cohen
0.5689
02:27:26
01:23:52
5
5
FIN
The lead in the Championship has changed again, with Itinerant and Elusive battling to the last race (as they did in the State Championships). Lionheart leads the Consistency, however Farr Far Away’s great form will give everyone something to watch out for.
We returned to South of Perth Yacht Club for Heat 7 of the Metro Series. The usual summer sea breeze made for excellent racing conditions, with the lead constantly changing between Elusive, Lionheart and Farr Far Away.
The crews and skippers worked hard, but Elusive was able to grab the lead back just before the line to finish only seconds in front of Lionheart, with Farr Far Away a very close third.
Heat 6 of the Metro series was hosted by Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club. The fleet enjoyed the return of our usual summer sailing conditions, with an afternoon south-westerly seabreeze – a very pleasant change from the recent heat and warm easterly breezes.
Farr Far Away shot out to an early lead, but was overtaken by Elusive who managed to lead the fleet around for the remainder of the race. Farr Far Away made excellent use of her new shiny jib, chasing Elusive all afternoon, but ultimately had to settle for second over the line, with Elusive fastest.
Frenzy was first on handicap, with Farrlap second and The Black Smoke third, with all the placing winners enjoying the great hospitality at RFBYC results after the race.
Thanks to Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club, the race team and all the volunteers! We will see you all again in March.
