Another day of light and variable winds with a strong run-out tide caused headaches for Port Macquarie Sailing Club’s double-header on Sunday consisting of Summer Season Race 8 and the 6^th Club Championship Race.

A short course was laid out for the first event of the day, but it was a case of who got a puff at the right time to round each mark, and who didn’t and drifted backwards in frustration. As the wind reduced, one buoy was moved to help competitors, but eventually the shortened course flag made an appearance.

Monohull yardstick results showed Jeff Walsh in Serenity take the win in front of Martina Holt in Spellbound, Ziggy Ewart sailing solo in Heart-a-tack, Stuart Symons and Harrison Eglon in Elmo, Terry Howard in Flying Dragon, Simon Gandy, Chelsea Copeland and Alex Eglon in Voyager, and Elsa Gandy and Zoe Copeland in Up Beat. With handicaps applied, the result was: Elmo, Serenity, Spellbound, Heart-a-tack, Flying Dragon, Voyager, and Up Beat.

Unfortunately, conditions got the better of several sailors with Steve Bohlsen in Interceptor, Tony Walker in Deep Purple, Andrew and Kieran Copeland in Big Bang and Steve Couch in Lazybuoy either giving up in frustration or otherwise unable to finish the race.

In the catamaran division, only two were tempted by the poor conditions. Frank O’Rourke on Turbo took the win on both yardstick and handicap followed by Tony Kuhn on Stella.

After lunch, the wind increased a knot or two, turning slightly more sou’west and the tide eased a little, so the short course was further revised for the club championship race.

While far from exciting conditions, all competitors were at least able to make their way around the course. Serenity and Lazybuoy had a close race. At every mark the light conditions and close racing resulted in some entertaining strategies employed to round the mark to windward of each other.

Spellbound lost a lot of ground during a close encounter with the mudflats as the tide ran out and rain-affected water made it difficult to see the bottom.

Stuart, now an “apprentice” Cherub skipper, sailing Heart-a-tack with Ziggy as forward hand, had some difficulty with the bottom mark, but eventually regained his composure to complete the course.

Voyager (now with just Simon and Chelsea) was having such a grand time, they bypassed the finish line and decided to start an extra lap before realising the mistake. Unfortunately, Flying Dragon followed, but got a birthday wish come true when the safety boat advised of the error – much to the disappointment of following crews.

In the end Flying Dragon took the monohull yardstick win followed by Voyager, Lazybuoy, Serenity, Spellbound and Heart-a-tack. Handicap result was a carbon copy.

Next week will be the last race of the season. While the program has the event slated as Handicap Start Race 7 starting at 12 noon, those members attending on Mother’s Day will have an opportunity to decide the race format on the day.