With a number of sailors away, sick, at the Port Macquarie 200 years celebration, or just scared off by the cold gusty wind and threat of rain, Port Macquarie Sailing Club’s second double header, with race 4 of the spring series in the morning, a BBQ lunch, and the 2nd Club Championship race in the afternoon, attracted small fleets. The Southerly breeze was meant to be quite strong, and although there were many strong gusts, it stayed easily sailable. The morning race had the last of the run-in tide, but the tide was running out for the afternoon race and getting very strong by the end.
The start of the morning race was delayed while waiting for late arrivals to rig to make a fleet. Jack Corthals on Harpic was the only catamaran to sail, so he went around the course for the yardstick and handicap points.
Steve Bohlsen and Ed Molony in Splash Dance led Stuart Symons in Britannia (sporting a new jib) to win the monohull division on yardstick by 51 seconds, and also on handicap by the same margin.
The afternoon’s 1st Club Championship race for catamarans was again only contested by Harpic for the yardstick and handicap points.
The yardstick winner in the monohull division in the afternoon race was Terry Howard in Ratz, 90 seconds ahead of Simon Gandy and Jane Cooper in Voyager, Splash Dance, and Stuart Symons now sailing Pineapple.
Next Saturday was supposed to be Queens Lake Sailing Clubs’ ‘Queen of the lake’ Marathon, but it has been postponed due to a clash of dates. Next Sunday is the second round of sprint series races starting at midday, a lunch break after the first 2 races, then 3 more races. Simon Gandy is rostered on duty.
