Uncategorized

Metro heat 6 had the fleet back sailing at Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club. A warm day and lighter breeze presented  some interesting challenges, with Farr Fetched heading out to a early lead and first round the top mark. Elusive got to grips with their brand new headsail, chasing down Farr Fetched and then spending the rest of the race battling with Farr Far Away. Farrlap accelerated through the fleet to eventually take third over the line, behind Farr Far Away in second place and Elusive first and fastest.

Thanks to RFBYC for hosting us, and we look forward to coming back in April.

Progressive results are now including our first drop.

Farr 9.2 Association Championship 2022/2023

Farr 9.2 Association Consistency 2022/2023

The fleet was back racing at Royal Perth Yacht Club for the final Metro series races of 2022. The club put on their annual windward/leeward afternoon, with all other fleets joining in the fun.

A later start and slightly stronger breeze changed things up, but the usual contenders showed us the way – Itinerant was fastest in both races, with Farr Far Away and Farrlap each taking a first on handicap.

Well done to all, and thanks again to RPYC and the start team for a great afternoon.

Heat 4

Heat 5

As detailed in our Notice of Race, the points for these windward/leeward races are averaged for the Metro series. This ensures those who didn’t start are not overly penalised, and that boats can drop the entire day of racing if needed.

Farr 9.2 Association Championship 2022/2023

Farr 9.2 Association Consistency 2022/2023

Heat 3 of the Metro series was hosted by South of Perth Yacht Club. The conditions ended up being a bit gustier than forecast, with a few late jib changes prior to the start. Continuing their great performance of late, Itinerant stormed around the top mark first and then managed to extend their lead over the afternoon, despite the best efforts of the rest of the fleet. Itinerant came home first and fastest, with Farr Far Away second and Lionheart third.

As always, thanks to SoPYC for hosting us!

Farr 9.2 Association Championship 2022/2023

Farr 9.2 Association Consistency 2022/2023

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.

The Notice of Race for the 2022-2023 season is now available:

Farr 9.2 Metro Series 2022-2023 NoR (PDF, 32kB)

The Metro Series race dates are as follows:

• 15 October 2022: Heat 1, RPYC
• 29 October 2022: Heat 2 & Max Hayes Memorial Trophy, RPYC
• 19 November 2022: Heat 3, SoPYC
• 10 December 2022: Heats 4 & 5 – windward/leeward races, RPYC
• 21 January 2023: Heat 6, RFBYC
• 18 February 2023: Heat 7, SoPYC
• 1 April 2023: Heat 8, RFBYC
• 15 April 2023: Heat 9 & Allan Coutts Memorial Trophy, RPYC

The calendar is also available electronically – please see Using the Farr 9.2 Association online calendar for details.

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.

All the best for the season!

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:

Farr 9.2 Association Championship 2021/2022

Farr 9.2 Association Consistency 2021/2022

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:

• Yacht Grot
• Bay Marine Maintenance
• UK Sailmakers
• Doyle Sails

The final results for the States were presented at the recent Association Prize Night, with the following overall results for the weekend:

Farr 9.2 States Championship 2022

Farr 9.2 States Consistency 2022

The individual race results were:

Race 1

Race 2

Race 3

Race 4

Race 5

Race 6

Race 7

Race 8

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.

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.

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:

1. Itinerant (Mark Hansen)
2. Elusive (Richard Brisbane-Cohen)
3. The Black Smoke (Jeremy Kerr)

Farr 9.2 State Championships – consistency:

1. Farrlap (Andrew Hossen)
2. Frenzy (Murray Rowe)
3. Lionheart (Warren Westaway)

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!