All week, Port Macquarie Sailing Club members were uninspired by the forecast for the first double-header of 2024, but Sunday dawned with a Bureau of Meteorology update that was much improved.

Race 2 of the Summer season started with the end of the run out tide and 7 to 10 knots easterly breeze that turned more ENE during the race. There was some confusion at the start with several sailors caught out by a decision to start the monohull division first instead of the usual process where they start 3 minutes after the cats.

Jeff Walsh in Serenity, Terry Howard in Flying Dragon and Roger Shipton in Zazoo were quick to get going and ran a competitive race in the monohull division. Unfortunately, Zazoo retired at the last mark with rudder problems. Tony Walker in Deep Purple, Simon Gandy, Logan McNeill and Bob Pearce in Voyager, and Steve Couch in Lazybuoy were not in the best position for the start and suffered as a result. At the end, yardstick results saw Flying Dragon take the win followed by Serenity, Lazybuoy, Deep Purple, and Voyager.

In a very short race for the catamaran division, Frank O'Rourke on Zero took the win followed by Tony Kuhn on Stella and Scott Witchard on Hummer.

During lunch, the tide turned and the forecast winds became more interesting with 12-15 knots and some bigger gusts that couldn't decide on ENE or NE. Some chop combined with the gusts to cause chaos for some at the start of the 4^th Club Championship Race until the tide fully kicked in and conditions smoothed out later in the afternoon.

Early in the catamaran division, Hummer didn't notice Stella get stuck in the shallows and pushed in even closer to the northern shore. While Stella got going again, Hummer called it a day. Zero didn't suffer the navigational hazards, taking the win followed by Stella. Handicap result is the same.

In the monohull division, Simon Gandy and Hudson McNeill in Voyager were quickly into the lead and maintained the position for line honours, but were pushed back down in the results by yardsticks. Warren Sykes in Runamuck and Flying Dragon played a close and competitive race with the lead changing several times. By the start of the last lap, Runamuck had opened a good lead, but a surprise gybe at the upwind mark resulted in a sore head, a refreshing swim, and Flying Dragon breathing down the stern for an exciting half lap and tactical finish. Lazybuoy was not too far behind and enjoyed a front row seat for the battle.

Another competitive finish was between Logan McNeill and Stuart Symons in Nomad and Steve Bohlsen in Serenity. Nomad got the tactical advantage and crossed the line in front of Serenity.

Andrew Copeland and Dave McNeill teamed up in Big Bang for a fun afternoon and Lucy Bohlsen and Jeff Walsh in Popcorn did well to continue the learning process in conditions perhaps a little tougher than expected.

Yardstick results awarded Runamuck the win, followed by Flying Dragon, Lazybuoy, Voyager, Nomad, Serenity, Big Bang, Popcorn. With handicaps applied, Lazybuoy edged in front of Runamuck, Flying Dragon, Voyager, Nomad, Serenity, Big Bang and Popcorn.

Next Sunday will be Sprint races 12-16 with the first race starting at 12 noon. Tony Kuhn is rostered on duty.