The forecast on Sunday didn’t look favourable, with only six or seven knots of sou’easterly breeze predicted, but there was enough for Port Macquarie Sailing Club members to contest two races – so long as they managed to avoid the many holes.
The first race of the day, Race 8 of the spring season, started into the incoming tide with Terry Howard in Flying Dragon, and Steve Couch in Lazybuoy well positioned for the start and followed Tony Kuhn on Stella, the only catamaran contestant for the day. 
The second mark, set in the tide towards the southern side of the river, caused headaches for several crews who didn’t compensate for the tide, or arrived during one of the many pauses in the breeze. 
Martina Holt in Spellbound and Jeff Walsh in Serenity managed to find the best puffs of breeze to pass the leaders. As did Simon Gandy and Phil Rudd in Voyager who managed to cross the line first, but were punished by the yardsticks.
A highlight of the race was Lucy Bohlsen’s first race as skipper in Flying Fish with dad Steve learning the ropes at the front of the boat. 
On yardsticks monohull fleet results were: Spellbound, Serenity, Flying Dragon, Lazybuoy, Voyager, Rob Barwick on Impulsive, Stuart Symons and Bob Pearce in Elmo and Tony Walker in Deep Purple. With Handicaps applied, results were: Serenity, Spellbound, Voyager, Lazybuoy, Elmo, Flying Dragon, Deep Purple, Impulsive and Flying Fish.
Stella enjoyed a leisurely win in the catamaran division.
A storm passed through the area killing what little strength the wind had, but fortunately, it was perfectly timed for lunch and by 2pm the breeze returned for the start of the 3rd Club Championship race. 
Paul Robertson and Steve Couch in Flembouyant and Elsa and Simon Gandy in Up Beat got off to a good start with Up Beat putting the pressure on and slipping into the lead before the first mark, but only for a minute or two. Despite finishing first and second, there was not enough wind for either crew to avoid the yardstick penalty. 
Flying Dragon had a great battle with Warren Sykes in Runamuck with positioning playing a large part of who got or missed a little gust, or was more in or out of the tide.  Spellbound, Serenity and Elmo were also never far away in the tricky conditions.
In the end Runamuck recorded the yardstick win followed by Flying Dragon, Flembouyant, Up Beat, Spellbound, Serenity, Elmo and Steve and Lucy Bohlsen now sailing in Interceptor.
Again, catamaran division points went to Stella.
Next Sunday is the 4th race of the Handicap Start Series starting 2pm. Jeff Walsh is rostered on duty.