Sat 17th April 99 - Piranha Trophy - Mini Series 3 Race 7
A glorious autumn afternoon. Roger Lucas at the helm of Blue Thunder had the Fleet abuzz.  Metala and Thunderation took the right hand side of the course following the start - very much to their detriment.  Vamoose and Blue Thunder streaked ahead in the good winds on the Southern side to take a virtually invincible position before the first mark was reached.  Vamoose, after leading all the way, was unfortunately taken out by a port tack boat breaking her spreader.  Blue Thunder went on to take the race beating the others home by nearly 5 minutes.  Results

		Handicap	Across the Line
Metala	Noel Semmens	1	2
Blue Thunder	Roger Lucas	2	1
Thunderation	Rob Wallace	3	3
Vamoose	Mark Fitzhardinge	DNF	DNF

Sat 10th April 99 - RAC Insurance Trophy - Mini Series 3 Race 6
An easterly course with Vamoose streaking out to the first mark.  Metala closed quickly on the run luffing Vamoose several times with the rounding on the next mark as close as it gets.  A series of gusts along the next shy leg caused a little concern and the fleet bunched up ready for the work back to Bond Spit.  Vamoose faltered and let Metala through.  Condor improved stongly and the three boats were line abeam running from Como to Foam  - Vamoose scraped an inside and reached away to take the lead and race. Condor was unlucky in losing her spinnaker over the side on the last leg.   results:

		Handicap	Across the line
Metala	Noel Semmens	1	2
Blue Thunder	Jim Baker	2	3
Vamoose	Mark Fitzhardinge	3	1
Thunderation	Rob Wallace	4	4
Condor	Chris Semmens	5	5

Sat 3rd April 99 - No Racing - Easter

Sat 27th March 99 - Can Teen Trophy - Mini Series 3 Race 5 (Racing Canceled - Rottnest Weekend)

Sat 20th March 99 - Ben Lexen Trophy - Club Championships Heat 6
With a couple of cyclones off the North West coast the day was uncharacteristically overcast with the wind in the South East - Course 2.  Thunderation had a great start, probably the best of the season, Metala being caught out at the Start Boat with no where to go.  The short leg to Como Buoy was the only real work on the day and despite the variable wind and the fleet taking the extremes of the course we all rounded in close proximity.   Under Spinnakers, Blue Thunder rounded the next mark on the inside of Vamoose and Metala for a shy run to Bricklanding.  Blue Thunder and Vamoose stayed in close quarters whilst Thunderation consolidated a 100m lead. Vamoose made the better of the next leg pulling away from Blue Thunder as did Metala.   The positions stayed very much the same for the remainder of the day.  Results:

		Handicap	Across the Line
Metala	Noel Semmens	1	3
Blue Thunder	Jim Baker	2	4
Vamoose	Mark Fitzhardinge	3	2
Thunderation	Rob Wallace	4	1

Sat 6th & 13th March 99 - No Races ( State Championships 7th, 13th & 14th March)
The State Championships saw only 6 boats compete. Regulars such as Noel Semmens (Metala) and David Orr (Lyelta)  were unable to compete due to other commitments with themselves and crew whilst John Wager (Falcon) was still in Indonesia.  The racing was close and held generally in lightish airs - too light in the first heat for two of the boats who just failed to reach the start line in time.  Vamoose  and Thunderation had a great tussle through the series, though Vamoose gave away an easy win when she went for another lap instead of crossing the finish line!  Thunderstruck gave a great performance within the heats, though failed to capitalize at the finish line. Blue Thunder, short handed in the early heats, gave a creditable showing in the final heat where she was unlucky not to win the race.  Vamoose finaly took out the series on both outright and handicap

RESULTS:             Click here for detailed results

		Points (discounting worst)	Championship Place	Handicap Points (discard worst)	Handicap Place
Vamoose	Mark Fitzhardinge	6	1	7	1
Thunderation	Rob Wallace	8	2	12	3
Condor	Chris Semmens	10	3	13	5
Thunderstruck	Ben Blake	13	4	12	4
Blue Thunder	Jim Baker	16	5	9	2
Thor	Andrew Hebb	27	6	26	6

Sat 27th Feb 99 - No Races - Long Weekend

Sat 20th Feb 99 - Gaynor Retravision Trophy - Club Championships Heat 5 - Mini Series 3 Race 2
Good to see 6 of the T'birds out and sailing, though Vamoose's skipper returned just in time from the Cottesloe/Rottnest swim for a mid-river transfer before the 10 minutes gun.  It looked like Metala and Vamoose's day when they both led well after the start - Metala lost a a batten from her main sail and Vamoose sailed some poor shifts letting the rest of the Fleet through.  Thunderation and Condor drew away from the field but maintained close contact with each other - Thunderation ending up with a deserved First and Fastest for the day.  A great battle for the minor places was interrupted when Thunderstruck was carried from the bottom mark the run by another fleet's competitor. It was a day of watching the wind shifts - great gains could be made or lost as most of the fleet could attest.  Results:

		Handicap	Across the Line
Thunderation	Rob Wallace	1	1
Condor	Chris Semmens	2	2
Blue Thunder	Jim Baker	3	4
Vamoose	Mark Fitzhardinge	4	3
Metala	Noel Semmens	5	6
Thunderstruck	Ben Blake	6	5

Sat 13th Feb - Festival of Perth Trophy - Mini Series 3 Race 1
Disaster for Metala losing her main halyard just before the start - she was unable to affect repairs or start (the 30 knot breeze being a little fresh to be maneuvering over a start line with only a Jib sail).  The heavy breeze was handled well by Condor who lead from the early stages to take First and Fastest.  Vamoose, with some new crew had quite some difficulty and was unable to fly a spinnaker all day.  Results:

		Handicap	Across the Line
Condor	Chris Semmens	1	1
Thunderstruck	Ben Blake	2	2
Vamoose	Mark Fitzhardinge	3	3

Sat 6th Feb 99 - Australia Cup Trophy - Mini Series 2 Race 7
The Australia Cup regatta is held in conjunction with the Australia Cup Match Racing series - This year the event saw the strongest yet field from the top skippers in the world - including the top three (Gilmour, Brady and Law).  The day was a close one for the Fleet in lighter airs - all the Fleet finished within a couple of minutes with only a couple of boat lengths separating the first three yachts.

		Handicap	Across the Line
Condor	Chris Semmens	1	4
Thunderstruck	Ben Blake	2	2
Blue Thunder	Jim Baker	3	6
Thunderation	Rob Wallace	4	1
Metala	Noel Semmens	5	5
Vamoose	Chris Chapple	6	3

Sat 30th Jan 99 - Make a Wish Trophy - Club Championships Heat 4 - Mini Series 2 Race 6
A late programme entry saw the Make a Wish Trophy included in what otherwise would have been a pennant race.  Surprisingly following last weeks late starts by some, Condor and Vamoose were again a little late in setting up their runs for the line, though soon the fleet settled down to a close work up to the first mark - Thunderation, Vamoose and Thunderstruck vying for the lead position. Thunderation and Vamoose soon put their stamp on the race when Thunderstruck's difficulties with her starboard tack saw her loose height on the long works to Bricklanding.  Metala and Condor again were close all day with Blue Thunder keeping them on their toes.  The day was fairly light - generally 12 to 15 knots - with a few lighter patches.  Results:

		Handicap	Across the Line
Condor	Chris Semmens	1	5
Thunderstruck	Ben Blake	2	3
Vamoose	Mark Fitzhardinge	3	1
Thunderation	Rob Wallace	4	2
Metala	Noel Semmens	5	4
Blue Thunder	Jim Baker	6	6

Sat 23rd Jan 99 - Vamoose Trophy - Mini Series 2 Race 5
A day when a lot of the fleet were still making their way to the line when the gun went - Vamoose was 15 minutes late!.  Thunderation though starting on time was quickly caught as the wind swung from the East to the South West allowing the late comers to run up to her with spinnakers billowing.  The majority of the fleet went to the South after rounding Como - but the wind failed to make on that side of the river allowing Vamoose to make a clear break on the other side.  Blue Thunder and Metala matched each other closely all day, though Course No2 with a South Wester offers little opportunity being a mainly reaching course.  Results:

		Handicap	Across the Line
Vamoose	Mark Fitzhardinge	1	1
Blue Thunder	Jim Baker	2	4
Metala	Noel Semmens	3	3
Thunderation	Rob Wallace	4	2
Condor	Chris Semmens	5	5

Sat 16th Jan 99 - Pennant Race - Mini Series 2 Race 4
Six T'birds hit the start line on a fresh sea breeze - 15 to 20 knots. Thunderation lead out of the blocks to the end of the race to take out another deserved first & Fastest - Rob Wallace was pressed only temporally by Metala and Vamoose.   It was a day of incidents at marks with Condor finding it difficult to gain his inside rights at a mark, Metala tearing her spinnaker at a drop and Vamoose hitting the top mark letting Ben Blake in Thunderstruck slip into second place. Blue Thunder, again under crewed kept the fleet honest.  Results

		Handicap	Across the Line
Thunderation	Rob Wallace	1	1
Thunderstruck	Ben Blake	2	2
Condor	Chris Semmens	3	4
Blue Thunder	Jim Baker	4	5
Vamoose	Mark Fitzhardinge	5	3
Metala	Noel Semmens	DNF	DNF

Sat 9th Jan 99 - Blue Thunder Trophy - Mini Series 2 Race 3
The forecast was for 30 knot winds and we were not disappointed. Blue Thunder carried a reef in her main taking it safe being very short handed - two experienced crew and a brand new newcomer. Condor also struggled around the course with 3 crew, though managed to fly a spinnaker on all legs.  Ben Wallace returned to the fleet after 6 weeks away and skippered Thunderation to both first and fastest - it was not all his own way as both Metala and Vamoose (who lost the halyard when the fitting on the head of the spinnaker failed).  Results were:

		Handicap	Across the Line
Thunderation	Rob Wallace	1	1
Condor	Chris Semmens	2	4
Metala	Noel Semmens	3	3
Vamoose	Mark Fitzhardinge	4	2
Blue Thunder	Jim Baker	5	5

Sat 19th Dec 98 - Rear Commodore's Trophy  - Club Championships Heat 3 - Mini Series 2 Race 2
Probably our freshest day this season with gusts above 30knotts. Five Thunderbirds lined up but Condor (short on crew) did not make it to the start line.  It was a day of attrition and wind shifts. Metala sailed well to take the lead early from Vamoose, though had to retire with a torn mainsail. Vamoose lost a hatch cover and surrendered the lead to retrieve it - later a weld let go on her traveller which was patched together with cord and enabled her to claw back to the lead.  Blue Thunder sailed well, despite a couple of breakages and spinnaker problem on the last run, to take the event on handicap.  Results for this third heat of the Club Championships were:

		Handicap	Across the Line (Club Champs Heat 3)
Blue Thunder	Jim Baker	1	2
Vamoose	Chris Chapple	2	1
Metala	Brian	DNF	DNF
Condor	Chris Semmens	DNS	DNS

Sat 12th Dec 98 - Bains Harding Trophy - Mini Series 2 Race 1
It looked as though we would be in for a light day as the boats were being rigged in the pens.  The Easterly breeze gave way to a Southerly and the starters gave us Course No.4 (a change from our almost predictable SWesterly Course No.1)  - Metala won the start but missread the first mark letting Vamoose in to the lead which she held for the rest of the day.  Blue Thunder had problems with the mast step and had to retire prior to the race.  Condor hung in though was handicapped on the reaching legs with short crew and therefore no spinnaker.  Results were:

		Handicap	Across the line
Vamoose	Chris Chapple	1	1
Metala	Noel Semmens	2	2
Condor	Chris Semmens	3	3

Sat 5th Dec 98 - No Racing - (Governor's Cup on Sunday 6th Dec)

Sat 28th Nov 98 - Shacks Holden Trophy  - Mini Series 1 Race 7
The November sea breezes pumped in again at over 20 knots.  The shy runs gave some interesting rides with Metala and Vamoose dicing on the second reaching leg.  It was a day to watch out for other fleets - there being a number of dingy fleets competing in the same stretch of water.  Results of the final race in the first Mini Series were:

		Handicap	Across the Line
Metala	Noel Semmens	1	2
Thunderstruck	Ben Blake	2	3
Vamoose	Chris Chapple	3	1
Condor	Chris Semmens	4	4
Blue Thunder	Jim Baker	5	5

Sat 21th Nov 98 - Condor Trophy  - Club Championships Heat 2 - Mini Series 1 Race 6
A fair amount of West in the breeze and course 4 was proclaimed. Metala won the start though sailed past the first mark letting Vamoose in to take the lead for the rest of the race.  Results were:

		Handicap	Across the Line (Club Champs Heat 2)
Vamoose	Chris Chapple	1	1
Metala	Noel Semmens	2	2
Blue Thunder	Jim Baker	3	3
Condor	Chris Semmens	4	4
Thunderstruck	Ben Blake	5	5

Sat 14th Nov 98 -  Hitchhiker Trophy  - Mini Series 1 Race 5
Another strong south westerly, all the T'birds choosing Jibs.  An interesting day with large wind shifts - especially on the south shore.  An unfortunate coming together of Thunderation and Thunderstruck soon after the start saw Thunderation retire with a damaged backstay.  Vamoose ( Chris Chapple took advantage of an early lead to finish first and fastest.  Preliminary results are:

		Handicap	Across the Line
Thunderstruck	Ben Blake	1	3
Vamoose	Chris Chapple	2	1
Metala	Noel Semmens	3	5
Blue Thunder	Mark Fitzhardinge	4	4
Condor	Chris Semmens	5	2
Thunderation	Rob Wallace	DNF	DNF

Sat 7th Nov 98 -  Pennant Race  - Mini Series 1 Race 4
A good sea breeze at 15 to 20 knots, though with a fair amount of swirl in it.  Thunderation took advantage of a clear pin end to win a large advantage at the start.  Condor, just back in the water, had steerage problems just before the start - the boatman appeared to have left out the pin in the rudder post.  Condor's retirement left only four birds to contest the day - though with Thunderation improving her margin in every leg, there was no real contest for first! - Rob went on to take out a deserved First and Fastest - his third for the season.  Results:

		Handicap	Across the Line
Thunderation	Rob Wallace	1	1
Vamoose	Chris Chapple	2	2
Metala	Noel Semmens	3	3
Blue Thunder	Jim Baker	4	4
Condor	Chris Semmens	DNS	DNS

Sat 31st October - Lyelta Trophy and 1st Heat of Club Championships - Mini Series 1 Race 3
Another great day for the T'birds, though there were only 5 on the water.  An interesting SWester (about 15 knots) with the lead changing quite a number of times, not only on the first beat to windward but throughout the race.  At the top mark on the second work (Bricklanding A and Bricklanding B) four of the birds were within 150m.  The final run down saw Thunderation, Blue Thunder and Vamoose line abreast for the whole leg and going on to finish within 30 odd seconds of each other.  The handicap results were close as well.   Results:

		Handicap	Across the Line (Club Championship Heat 1)
Blue Thunder	Jim Baker	First	Third
Metala	Noel Semmens	Second	Fourth
Vamoose	Chris Chapple	Third	First
Thunderation	Rob Wallace	Fourth	Second
Thor	Andrew Hebb	Fifth	Fifth

Sat 24th October 1998 - Pennant Race - Mini Series 1 Race 2
Rob Wallace took out fastest again, though he did not have it all his way.  Noel Semmens in Metala sailed well to take out the handicap place - his new fore deck hand working out well.   The day was another good south wester (about 15 to 18 knots).  Chris Chapple in Vamoose, handicapped without a big spinnaker, had a problem rounding the last mark and let Metala in.   Ben Blake in Thunderstruck worked solidly to take the third place. Results:

		Handicap	Across the Line
Metala	Noel Semmens	First	Second
Thunderation	Rob Wallace	Second	First
Thunderstruck	Ben Blake	Third	Fifth
Vamoose	Chris Chapple	Fourth	Third
Blue Thunder	Jim Baker	Fifth	Fourth

Sat 17th October 1998 - Statewide Oils Trophy - Royal Perth Yacht Club - Mini 1 Series Race 1
Rob Wallace in Thunderation once again soundly beat the fleet to take out First & Fastest.  It looks like the summer seas breezes are with us early this year - 15 to 20 knots, though with a fair amount of West.  It was anyone's race after the start with most boats taking turns at the lead on the way to the first mark, it was here Thunderation placed her mark on the race and not headed again.  Thor performed well, holding a clear second position most of the day and across the line.  Bad luck once again struck Blue Thunder with their spinnaker trawling in the water for a while.  Handicap results:

		Handicap	Across the Line
Thunderation	Rob Wallace	First	First
Thor	Chris Semmens (Andrew Hebb)	Second	Second
Vamoose	Chris Chapple	Third	Third
Thunderstruck	Andrew Hebb	Fourth	Fifth
Metala	Noel Semmens	Fifth	Fourth
Blue Thunder	Jim Baker	Sixth	Sixth

Sat 10th October 1998 - Opening Day - Royal Perth Yacht Club - Rear Commodore's Pennant
Rob Wallace in Thunderation soundly beat the fleet leading from start to finish to take out First & Fastest.  The day turned on a steady 15 knot Sou'Wester and beautiful sunshine - what a start to the season.  Blue Thunder unfortunately retired after her out haul let go and damaged the foot of the mainsail - a disappointment for Jim Baker.  Handicap results :

Thunderation	Rob Wallace	First & Fastest
Vamoose	Mark Fitzhardinge	Second
Lyelta	David Orr	Third
Thunderstruck	Ben Blake	Fourth
Metala	Noel Semmens	Fifth
Thor	Andrew Hebb	Sixth
Blue Thunder	Jim Baker	DNF