09/09/23
The 1st sailing day of the season started out quite windy and cool in the morning around 15 to 20 knot westerly and max daytime temperature of around 17 degrees. Overnight Holfuy had recorded wind up to 46 knots.
16 boats participated in the first race of the season with 3 TYs, 2 Windrushes, 2 Moths, a 505, a Sharpie and 7 Wetas - a pretty good turnout considering the forecast and that the fleet isn't up to full strength.
This was our first 1.30pm start and duty crew consisted of PRO Paul Leaudais, Todd Curry on Wal Curry and Hayden Sellers and Brad Curry of Puffa. The breeze oscillated somewhat from Westerly to SSEasterly at about 5 knots around race start time. Bottom mark was set between clubhouse and Gooseberry Island, top mark towards middle of lake and wing mark over near entrance to IYC. At start time the breeze dropped a little and boats such as Moths unable to foil. Hence was one of the rare occasions that conventional boats were faster. The 2 Windrush catamarans sailed by Ralf Steyer and Hugh Lewis making good time catching up with earlier starting divisions by the top mark. The 1st work was challenging as the wind oscillated around 100 degrees. Hugh and Ralf had a good tussle. Hugh rounding the top mark before Ralf. Ralf cat rigged headed directly toward wing mark (direct run downwind), Hugh with gib tried a more 90 degree and gybe approach but the breeze dropped down to around 2 knots so Ralf won that leg by a good 100m. The a testing light shifty breeze down to bottom mark again. The next work up to top mark was able to be done directly as the breeze shifted more westerly. And a broad reach on the downwind to the bottom mark. The bottom mark being quite congested as a group of wetas, ty and cats approached and rounded at same time. Steve Watts getting squeezed and to avoid collision mounted the bottom mark. It was quite entertaining watching him bouncing his boat and the mark to dismount and continue. The breeze continued to be shifty but fortunately started to pickup in strength hence the last triangle and run home were much more enjoyable with wind strength 10 – 17 knots (as per Holfuy). This gave Hugh the edge over Ralf leading him home. The stronger breeze saw the Moths up of foils travelling at significantly greater speeds. All the spinnaker boats also enjoying a much livelier finish to the race.
Hugh Lewis
