While the weather forecasters were predicting a fresh south-westerly for Sunday afternoon, Port Macquarie Sailing Club can report that their forecast was optimistic at best. A strong run-out tide combined with the light and patchy breeze to make it difficult for competitors in both races of the day.
In the first race, Summer Series Race 6, competitors struggled to round the first mark but eventually made it as the breeze improved a little. Unfortunately, the shortened course flag had to be deployed later in the race to get everyone back to the clubhouse for lunch.
In the Monohull division, Warren Sykes in Runamuck made the best of the bad conditions to just edge out Roger Shipton in Zazoo on yardstick. Steve Couch in Lazybuoy was next followed by Terry Howard in his new Impulse Flying Fish, Steve Bohlsen sailing solo in Interceptor, Simon Gandy, Andrew and Kieran Copeland in Voyager, Stuart Symons and Ben McHugh in Elmo. Handicap results were: Runamuck, Lazybuoy, Zazoo, Elmo, Flying Fish, Interceptor, and Voyager.
Frank O’Rourke on Dino finished in front of Tony Kuhn on Stella in the Catamaran Division. On handicap, the results were reversed.
Only one entrant in the Junior Division, Elsa Gandy and Zoe Copeland in Sail Fish, took the win on both yardstick and handicap.
After lunch, the fleet launched for the 6th Club Championship amid hopes that the forecast winds would come in. It was not to be the case. At the sound of the starters gun, the winds dropped. Dino had an interesting encounter with the start flag that almost ended in capsize. Zazoo and Elmo (now with Steve Couch as crew) made it to the start line but were then pushed backwards in the tide and took more than 30 minutes to get back to that point. Sail Fish got a tow back to the beach before drifting too far off the course. Again, the shortened course flag made an appearance to end the misery.
Zazoo took the win well and truly at the front of the monohull fleet followed by Voyager, and Elmo. Handicap results were a carbon copy. Casualties of the conditions, Flying Fish, Runamuck, Interceptor and Sail Fish did not finish.
In the Catamaran division, Stella took both yardstick and handicap wins over Dino.
Next week will be Race 9 in the Handicap Start Series. Jeff Walsh is rostered on duty.
Steve Couch – Publicity Officer
0417 667 879
publicityofficerpmsc@gmail.com
