Summer sailing conditions rolled into March for Port Macquarie Sailing Club’s 7th Handicap Start Race on Sunday. Balmy temps with a great 13-14 knot ENE wind and strong run-out tide made for enjoyable afternoon on the water.
Steve Couch in Lazybuoy took advantage of the handicap start and conditions to lead the monohull fleet around the course. Stuart Symons and Simon Gandy in Elmo were reeling in Lazybuoy throughout the race and were unfortunate that there wasn’t another half lap before the finish line.
Steve and Lucy Bohlsen in Interceptor were also working their way up the fleet but an unintentional swim after a gybe kept Interceptor in 3rd place. Martina Holt in Spellbound was close behind and relieved to be back on the beach after such a hard work out.
Jeff Walsh in Serenity gambled with the mudflats on the northern side of the river to avoid the worst of the tide and despite a few warning touches, came to an abrupt stop that also broke the rudder downhaul. He limped back to the beach to effect some repairs before returning to the race. He gained on Spellbound, but the damage was done.
Three entrants contested the catamaran division, with Grady McNee on Chilli Pepper doing a shakedown run before the Wallagoot Lake Boat Club Regatta. Tony Kuhn on Stella was having a great afternoon sail working up through the fleet until tangling with Chilli Pepper on the last buoy and capsizing allowing Chilli Pepper and Dave Winter on Spica finish relegating Stella to third place. Several PMSC catamaran sailors are off to Toukley for the Arrow Catamaran State Titles next weekend. Best of luck!
Next week will be the Summer Marathon, starting at 11:30am. Simon Gandy and Martina Holt are rostered on duty.
