Since last week’s race was postponed by adverse conditions, Port Macquarie Sailing Club members were extra keen to hit the Hastings River on Sunday for the first races of the new sailing season. Despite being presented with a glorious spring day, only light and variable winds hinted that some patience was going to be needed for the first race of the double-header before the forecast breezes kick in for the afternoon race.

Spring Season Race 2 started in the dwindling sou’wester and the fleet drifted away from the start line with some taking a good 40 minutes to start the race. With only two catamarans taking part, only one start was planned, and it was a rare sight to see the cats and 2 or 3 monohulls approaching the first mark together. Unfortunately, it was a case of who got the puff to round the mark, and who drifted backwards again.

On yardsticks, Frank O’Rourke on Turbo finished in front of Grady McNee on Chilli Pepper in the Catamaran Division. Handicap results will be available after 3 races in the series.

Terry Howard in Flying Dragon took the Monohull Division win a handful of seconds in front of Martina Holt in Spellbound. Jeff Walsh in Serenity recovered from a disastrous start to finish third pipping Steve Couch in Lazybuoy at the post. Mitch Dawson in Impetuous crossed next, followed by Stuart Symons and Harrison Eglon in Elmo, Andrew and Kieran Copeland in Big Bang, and Tony Walker in Deep Purple.

After lunch, a few new contenders arrived for the 1st Club Championship Race and the wind turned more sou’east strengthening to a comfortable 10 knots for a pleasant afternoon sail.

Turbo again took the lead from Chilli Pepper and Scott Witchard on Hummer came in third.

In the Monohull Division, Serenity got a much better start and despite all efforts Flying Dragon couldn’t get past. Warren Sykes in Runamuck came in third followed by Steve Bohlsen in Interceptor who is now extoling the virtues of a self-tacking jib. Spellbound was next followed by Ziggy Ewart in Gift, Lazybuoy, Stuart Symons now sailing solo in Puffin, Impetuous, and Jim Kerrison and Deb Stening in Water Rat who slept in and started the race while the rest of the fleet had at least a lap in head start.

A friendly reminder from Treasurer Fiona: In addition to paying your annual membership fees, please also complete one of the paper membership renewal forms (available in the clubhouse) because there are some legalities to be signed that only appear on the paper form.

Next week will be Spring Season Race 3, starting 1pm. Jeff Walsh is rostered on duty.