Final Club Champs: 4 Storylines to watch
After a season with a variety of conditions, there’s a lot happening going into the final day of racing for the Club Championships. Let’s break down the talking points before we hit the water.
The Leaders
Looking at the results, you’d be quick to say its a three-horse race for Club honours.
Modern Concept Construction (MCC) are the current leaders with Moonen Yachts behind by 1 point and Imagine Signage trailing again by another point. All three have been extremely consistent averaging less than a 3rd all year.
One could say its Imagine Signage on form with a 1-2-1 over their last 3 races, but their 8thplace discard means they can’t mess about. MCC is in a similar position discarding a DNC after pre-race gear failure a few weeks back. This puts Moonen Yachts in a unique position currently holding a 4th place discard, so slightly advantaged if it came to it.
With only one discard allowed for the series, all 3 will need to keep their noses clean and their heads cool to have a shot at the overall title. With 2 races scheduled it’s sure to be a contest.
What about behind the leaders?
Not far out of play is another pack of hunters. Its not impossible to think that down to 6th could still have a decent go at the title with Red Pumps Red only 9 points off MCC.
Breaking the tiebreaker with Red Pumps Red courtesy of a win in Race 5, IMEI are sitting 5th and are the current National Champions. Plenty of talent on board, so don’t count them out.
And just one point in front of IMEI sitting 4th are Red Pumps on 20 points. Red Pumps were quick out of the blocks scoring a 1-1 in the opening round of the Club Championships but have struggled to find their form for the rest of the season. Having won two State titles in three years, the leaders will need to watch their backs.
Speaking of watching backs…
Sibling bragging rights are on between Red Pumps and Red Pumps Red, with siblings Zoe and Tyler Dransfield on the sticks.
Both are incredibly accomplished and will be hyper-aware of where the other is on track, especially with only 1 point separating them.
If Saturday’s forecasted conditions hold, it’ll be a toss-up between these two on the track. Red Pumps showed their speed in the windier conditions while Red Pumps Red seems to prefer the slightly lighter and more tactical racing.
What is the forecast?
Local forecasting shows low to mid-teens breeze out of the SW backing to the SE with a small swell. Other reliable models show slightly lighter winds but agree with the direction.
One thing for certain is everyone will be on their number 1 rigs, but what headsail? That might depend on the sail quiver each team has and sea state on the day.
Can’t make it to the Club?
We’ll be live-streaming the final races thanks to Sail Media on the Manly16sTV YouTube channel, and here’s the results as they stand:
Current results heading in to the final 2 races of the 2024-2024 Manly 16ft Skiff Club Championship
