After several weeks of light, variable and uninspiring conditions, Port Macquarie Sailing Club members were blessed on Sunday with a fresh nor’easter for the 3rd Handicap Start race of the season.
The usual course for a nor’easter was laid out, and a determined fleet of 12 monohulls and two catamarans launched for a staggered start and three laps under the watchful eye of the race handicapper. First to start off into the last of the run-in tide were Stuart Symons on Rainbow, Dave Winter on Spica and Tony Walker in Deep Purple. Andrew and Kieran Copeland in Big Bang were next together with Mitch Dawson in Impetuous who was delayed by an unscripted swim on the start line. Steve Couch in Lazybuoy had a slow start, but passed Deep Purple while it was capsized and was catching up to the cats at the first mark. Elsa Gandy and Zoe Copeland in Up Beat were next and also quickly catching up to Lazybuoy and the cats.
The next group to start hunting down the early starters included Martina Holt in Spellbound, Terry Howard in Flying Dragon and Steve Bohlsen sailing solo in Interceptor. They were followed soon after by Jeff Walsh in Serenity, Simon Gandy and Chelsea Copeland in Voyager, Warren Sykes in Runamuck, and scratch boat, Jim Kerrison and Deb Stening in Death Defying Too.
The steady 13-15 knot wind included plenty of gusts carrying a few extra knots for the excitement of spectators. Capsizes were the special of the day with only a couple crews avoiding the inevitable. As the race progressed, the number of boats returning to the beach increased – but then, so did the determination of those still on the water.
Death Defying Too, revelled in the conditions and despite starting last, finished first and took off for another lap just for the fun of it. Lazybuoy held on for second place while Runamuck was fast closing the gap and Serenity followed not far behind. Unfortunately, all other monohulls had retired from the event. In the catamaran division, Spica took the win uncontested after Rainbow struggled get the bow around in the tack – once even doing a spot of gardening in the mangroves before calling it quits for the day.
Next Sunday the club will hold another double header featuring Spring Season Race 6 starting at 11am followed by the 3rd Club Championship race 2pm. Jeff Walsh is rostered on duty. A barbecue lunch will be available in between races.
