5/12/2021

Another cool day with sprinkles and patchy, mostly southerly winds kept numbers low for Port Macquarie Sailing Club’s Sprint Series Races 11-15 today.

Two or three hardy crews rigged up while debate continued on the balcony. Eventually another few spectators had their arm twisted to become competitors.

Simon Gandy was keen to test out his latest acquisition Chaos – which ran into some of its namesake and was dismasted by a broken side stay before hitting the start line for the first race.

While Chaos was towed back to the beach, the first race started in the very high and strong outgoing tide that had plenty of fresh and flotsam to deal with in the patchy and changeable wind. Jim Kerrison and Deb Stening in Death Defying took first place followed by Terry Howard in Flying Dragon, Roger Shipton in Zazoo, Ziggy Ewart and Riley Armstrong in Heart Attack and Steve and Lucy Bohlsen in Interceptor.

The second race also had some chaos, this time with Heart Attack suffering a problem with the trapeze and returning to the beach for some quick repairs. Death Defying took the win again followed by Flying Dragon, Zazoo and Interceptor. Two races were enough for Interceptor which returned to the beach.

In the 3^rd race, Death Defying was on the receiving end of a gust just as the kite was set at the start. The boat seemed to sit on the point of capsize for several seconds before the skilled hands coaxed the craft back. It didn’t matter though, the end result was the same: Death Defying, Flying Dragon, Zazoo and Heart Attack.

The 4^th race showed the great competition between Flying Dragon and Zazoo. Flying Dragon was in front for most of the race, but Zazoo made up a lot of ground in the last leg to get in front. Results were: Death Defying, Zazoo, Flying Dragon, and Heart Attack.

In the last race, Zazoo got off to a good start, but was soon hunted down. Death Defying made a clean sweep of the day with Flying Dragon next followed Zazoo and Heart Attack.

Overall results for the day: Death Defying, Flying Dragon, Zazoo, Heart Attack, Interceptor.

Next week will be Spring Series Race 6 starting at 11am followed by the 3^rd Club Championship at 2pm. A BBQ lunch will be available in between races. Terry Howard is rostered on duty.

Steve Couch – Publicity Officer

0417 667 879

publicityofficerpmsc@gmail.com