Images Rolex Trophy; When Upwind Was Downwind

5:06 AM Sun 14 Dec 2008 GMT

'Zen cracks sheets in a freshening northwesterly - Rolex Trophy One Designs 2008' Crosbie Lorimer Click Here to view large photo

It's hard enough explaining the intricacies of sailing to the uninitiated at the best of times, but anyone trying to make sense of Race 2 of yesterday's Rolex Trophy One Design racing off South Head would have faced some interesting challenges.

A weak nor'wester clocked slowly right during the morning and built enough momentum in the early afternoon for Race Officer Denis Thompson to take a punt - after an initial postponement - and get race two away.

All day the forecast strong northwesterly had threatened to make its presence felt, lingering for a while onshore before finally raiding rapidly seaward and turning the first and second legs of Race 2 on their head.

As the first of the Sydney 38s approached the top mark in a weakening nor-easter a strong northwesterly suddenly mugged the fleet, throwing order into confusion.

At this point the sailing coach's commentary to their bemused novices watching from the top mark would have run something along these lines:

'OK, so remember how I told you that you can't sail directly into the wind up the first leg, well that's true; but when, like today, the upwind leg turns downwind then you can hoist a spinnaker and sail the upwind leg downwind. When you get to the windward mark you round to leeward, take down the spinnaker, tack around the offset mark and start to sail the downwind leg upwind..with me still?'

Needless to say the race did not run its full course, being shortened after only one round at the upwind (or was it downwind?) finish line.

Crosbie Lorimer was on the water watching the confusion and taking these images.

White Cloud at the top mark - Rolex Tophy One Designs 2008 - Crosbie Lorimer Click Here to view large photo

Kokomo works upwind in a fading northeaster - Rolex Tophy One Designs 2008 - Crosbie Lorimer Click Here to view large photo

Easy Tiger pursues Estate Master downwind - Rolex Tophy One Designs 2008 - Crosbie Lorimer Click Here to view large photo

Laing Walker's Kokomo rounds the top mark in Race 2 - Rolex Tophy One Designs 2008 - Crosbie Lorimer Click Here to view large photo

Upwind to the offset mark - Rolex Tophy One Designs 2008 - Crosbie Lorimer Click Here to view large photo

Subzero Goat turns around the top mark - Rolex Tophy One Designs 2008 - Crosbie Lorimer Click Here to view large photo

A sudden northwesterly turns the course on its head - Rolex Tophy One Designs 2008 - Crosbie Lorimer Click Here to view large photo

Kokomo swings around the offset mark - Rolex Tophy One Designs 2008 - Crosbie Lorimer Click Here to view large photo

Iplex Outlaw turns downwind - Rolex Tophy One Designs 2008 - Crosbie Lorimer Click Here to view large photo

by Crosbie Lorimer

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