Sydney Summer Series

ABOARD STEAM SHIP URINGA, CAPTAIN CLELAND RINGS DOWN 'FULL ASTERN'

It was a night at sea, a night on the harbour; a night of going about, trimming sail and signalling three toots when reversing engines. It was also another of those sublime Sydney Summer Series evenings that mixed intriguing and confusing inner city street shenanigans with views galore. Views from the stern, the bow, the poop - but not from the boiler deck, where Master Cleland had Engineer Pallas in a sweat shovelling coal, as he rang down for more speed from the ageing and riveted eagle.

But first, a note on editorial direction.

In last weeks event preview, I noted the looming excitement of our return to Balmain - this time under the baton of Brian 'Wilson' Cleland. Having just concluded my Turimetta Tidal Trumpet, and being 'aglow' with matters seaside, I was picturing Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys - hence the reference to the guitar (although I think BW is more of a keyboard man now I come to think of it) - and maybe developing a pop tune and trendy take at 'Skinny Latte'. All this had to be cast aside however, and a new theme developed, once the 'Captain's' plans were revealed. BC wasn't going tin pan alley, he was going ten point alley - in one of the great in-out ferry routes in recent memory. Join in as Pork Pie works over the harbour maritime charts aboard SS Uringa.

Arrival alongside found the ship well anchored and shore power connected. Various flags indicated 'divers below', and 'pirates aboard' - with the yellow fever flag (the yellow one) also featuring the plea 'help'. This didn't seem to deter one of our biggest roll ups in season 23 however, where 210 entries seemed to signal 230-odd souls eager to get on board. And for the price of two schooners and a flash of the 'Mum' tattoo, the nights chart was yours. Seafarers gathered upon the shady lawns of Dr Mort - where life veritably hummed with expectation, and the twirling plumb line (this one notched in 1:8,000 fathoms) was cast upon the full coloured landscape shaped vellum.

The first impression is of the proboscis like shapes protruding from the suburb. A probing forth of landform into the harbour, much like the inching forth of paint in an expensive Clyfford Still. Then it hits you. The ten pointers at the extremities - scattered in an outer ring and several as impossible stretches - and the many significant in-out controls, especially at the east end of Darling Street (where tram buffs recalled the counter weight car used to stop trams from running away downhill into the harbour). This was 'Larry' as we not have seen before - with several eliminated from voyage plans within a minute of competitors opening their charts. Number one, gone. Number nine, gone. Number eight, gone too - as was the pesky transformer (#2). Number 1 & 8 though, what classics - and what views - a couple of the greatest 'reverse engine' checkpoints in SSS history. Sadly not many beeped on at either I would guess, with a toss up between them for the lonely buoy award (#8 probably pulled a few off line from #7, and #2 worked into an outer loop that included the on-board veggie garden at 14).

There were two excellent sections of Captain Cleland's plan - the Ballast Point trio (60pts), and then the broader customs collect from Colgate to Darling Wharf (where the Uringa had been refused berthing rights).

Firstly, the Ballast sixty was masterful planning, with many runners doing all three controls gaining the low thirty points only to lose them in time taken. The location of #4 a particular 'treat', and the double stair flights up from #15 a killer if working west. Several maybe smarter runners (again working anti clockwise) worked #3 (a delightful initial in-out), around and up the steps to #24, and then on to #23 etc - ignoring Brian's tempters below, and benefitting. This inset 1:4000 section was very well done indeed. Secondly, the east end of the chart was a challenge (and saw the most reverse engine calls), with 'Contour Kate' adding to the coal consumption of competing steamers. Twenty was nice around the sandstone buildings, with runners noted adjusting their uniforms as the ferry unloaded. 30 a classy in-out, then the puff up to 10, up/down to 18, along the foreshore under the scaffolding to the 29 zig zag (many not seeing this and going up-down (the Flickster amongst them), and then up to #19 - who's street corner seemed closer to Darling Street - before reversing again to a descent to the propellers and the tug boat wharf.

If you went clockwise, and the majority seemed to, you began #25, 16 and the the above in reverse till the southern swoop along Darling Street to the great new boardwalk at #7 and then Water Police harbour and the link to 28,17,26,5,22 and ponder stations. Those with speed worked their varnished in-boards to 13,21,12 and Ballast before skirting Morts and signing off at the red 'wreckage' flag. Going 22 to 14,2 then 13 was wider still - and only a route for the younger navy recruits it seems. There might have been other variations, but I think the circle from 3,Ballast.22 in the west to most of the east and south (in either direction) yielded for most sailors - and explains the most common scores - with eleven runners at 370pts and another eleven at 390.

First impressions looked 'several 600's', but the tenners on the outer delivered the headline…."Ten Point Tempters Failed To"… so it was no surprise to see the top at 570, and Mr McKenzie's 'Menthoids' only walking to 540 points (and at 81.36 minutes upon the briny, returning 370 of them to the deep). Other vessels long overdue (fog on the Balmain banks) included Chu Hsien-Chong (OM and at sea for 58.01), Cameron 'The Senate' Will (SJM and becalmed for 57.20 minutes), and a surprisingly long voyage from Ted Woodley (LM 310pts) - with 55.25 on the ships log and the smell of rum in the wheelhouse. There was no Currie on last nights menu - a big surprise given this is there home port, but there was 'Team Berko' - one of ten groups, and one of our favourites with 220 on the telegraph. The best scoring group entry was 'The Merrington' Group with 290 points, but we just have to mention a new class act in 'Pedro's Parents' - scoring 170 in 41.29 and hopefully not disappointing Pedro too much. We hope to see the 'PP's" again soon.

No close shaves this week, with only the afore mentioned Chu going .01. I see Mike Hotchkiss (VM 370pts) aboard, and presume this is the Rogaining Mike of great accomplishment. Good to see Mike enjoying a Mini Rogaines - as we once called the Summer Series. I also not John 'The Cartoonist' Giles back after injury at his first SSS season 23 run (I think I've got that right), working up 280 in the LM overalls, and Angas Van Schalk running SJM and not as part of the VS family group. 'The Aberdeen' scored 70 after having fifty of his well earned 120 pinched by petty officials at the Quay. Unfair really.

A good two thirds of the field were on or above 300 (143 actually), but only 26 of them were north of 500 - including our joint winners on 570 points, Richard Green (MM @44.24) and newcomer (and Junior!!!) Adam Potter, who went all stations in 47.04. 'The Potty' has no club affiliation, but blasts into SSS view in one of the most sensational debut's ever seen. More info please, this is incredible stuff, although customs officials will need to sail area for compliance.

Maybe a few more results. As cargoes are landed and sailors head off to the 'Dry Dock' for a Tooths.

No Steve Ryan in OM this week, but another draw! This time Andy Hill and Mark Schaefer both post 550's to be joint winners - Mark under time, Andrew a bit wider and over (580, 47.48). Gill (OW) and Mike Burton (VM) both drew 540 points to starboard in winning their respective classes (again!), and were generally well in front of other vessels - Claire Winnick (a superb 520) closer to 'Extra Bold' than Andrew Smith's VM 510 is to 'The Vanashing Swamp'. A great run by Andy (one of the many Garingal Andy's) all the same, and a click of the telegraph in front of his other deadly VM competitors - Greg Barbour (500), and Pete Annetts and Matt Peters (both 490's). Close racing here boys!

Warwick Selby continues his winning form (SVM 480), as does Steve Flick (LM 440) and Heiko (IM 400). Paula (VW 440) and Antoniya (MW 450) do likewise - as does Michele Dawson, in a really excellent 440 in Junior Women. Toby Wilson gets the gold in SJM (380), Carol and Karin likewise (LW/SVW) and 'The Shunter' in SJW (230 in a nicely timed 44.49). The walkers were without 'The Knee', so it came down to Jimmy and Andy (our favourite SSS shipmate handle), with 'The River Po' putting on twenty more leagues than Jim (350/330) - the latter also the score of Emmanuelle in WaW. Gwen Sewell (just) takes IW with 210 from Cheryl Davies (200) and June (190), but great to see Sue Thomson back on the bridge and ordering 130 degrees and 'slow ahead both' in the category she is leading.

Lumo seemed to be 'slow both engines' (230 in SVM), possibly saving himself for some fast and furious out-of-bounds work at Sprint the Bay in NZ (somewhere off the port bow). Rob Spry was also noted as a 230 man, quietly going about his course, chart gripped firmly in to starboard, and with an eye on the horizon. The 'About Not To Be' Governor General (VW) is one of a number of working boats posting 270's, along with 'The Nest Of Vipers' (LM) and the two open '...ak's' Clare and Dominic. Good work all. I also note Michelle Hone 'Ing My Skills' with a tidy 310 in OW, the very same score as Sir Ronald of Pumkin and Bean in IM - and, sadly, well astern of fellow immortals Sir Kenneth (330) and Sir Teddy (350), and over the horizon from the Battleship Schaefer. David Bowerman has pipped Stu by ten in this SVM guns drawn stand off (360/350). Next week mutters Stuart, as does President Paul in the same age grouping, who only went ten better and might end up with a shore posting if he doesn't improve.

Heaps of other good scores of course, some back a bit (Dave Bray 420, Larry 380), some up a bit (James 'Of Beecroft' 470, Carolyn Haupt 440) - but all posted shortly, if not already. Things are getting serious now with poor runs being well eliminated from the count and the business end of the SSS looming! Watch this space as they say. So, to conclude, a great night (another fine evening!!) with a very enjoyable flog around the port of Balmain behind the Uringa and it's skipper Brian 'The Groom' Cleland. Big thanks to all the UR crew (chief stoker Pallas already noted) for what would have been close to our biggest so far. Must be close.

Next week, sees the boarding party well on shore, and working into the wolds of Pennant Hills Park. Here we will reprise one of last seasons greatest outings (remember 'The Plunge' by Wayne - immortal stuff), with some nice bush track work, and maybe some real bush work without the tracks! Bob 'The Elvis Presley of Bennelong' Morgan is in charge and I can already see the right leg shaking! It's rock and roll, it's the dance of a lifetime, as Bobby goes wide and deploys the cunning tools of contour, track and netball fence. Don't miss it for quids.

Normally that is how (and exhausted) Pork Pie signs off his race reports - hoping we might see comments by other runners posted over the following week (please!!). This time I need to mention an incident at Balmain last night, and our need to enjoy the Summer Series in the most neighbour friendly way possible. It appears an elderly lady, walking her dog, was pushed/brushed aside into a brush fence by a runner - passing at speed. No injuries, but she did seek out the event officials and complained - to the effect that she didn't believe we should be running in Balmain at all, and might take it up at Council. Not an outcome we hope to see of course, but I think Brian managed the situation as best he could, and we all hope for 'no further'. The point is to reiterate how important it is that we all run safe, beware of others, and enjoy our sport together.