PORT MacDonnell sailors were greeted with glassy conditions on the weekend for the latest round of club racing.
However, by race time a significant westerly had blown up at 15-20 knots, with seven boats taking to the water after a heavy gust of wind tore the sail on Famous Blue Raincoat in front of the clubhouse still on the beach.
I Was Once sat on the beach ready to launch and was picked up by the same gust and ended up near the base of the sand dunes, but with no harm done, promptly headed out onto the water.
Race officer Don McLennan with time keepers Robyn McLennan and Mary Evans officiated over the day.
Race 1 started just after 1pm, with Sandrine, skippered by Chris Lynch, with David Bryson and Craig Smith on board first over the line, followed by Freycinet, skippered by Morris Dickins with Jen Jones and Nick Watson.
That set the scene for the entire race, with Freycinet just behind Sandrine from start until the last buoy heading to the finish line, where Freycinet overtook Sandrine, finishing in front by just 10 seconds.
But in the end on Class basic handicap, Papillon was victorious, skippered by Mack Ferguson with Dave Jones and Phil Pulford, claiming the honours by just one second to Freycinet, closely followed by Sandrine 10 seconds further adrift.
Race 2 saw Salt Peter, skippered by Robin White with Sharon White and Neville Stone, over the line in first place off the start, closely followed by Sandrine.
Similar close racing occurred as in Race 1 between the larger boats Sandrine, Freycinet and Full Moon, skippered by Nick Rishworth with Andrew Rishworth, with all finishing within a five minute buffer.
Results on Class basic handicap was I Was Once, skippered by Greg Graham, followed by Sandrine and Papillon.
Racing is on again tomorrow for the start of the four-race Austral championship over the next two weekends.
Race officer for the coming week is Morris Dickins, with Race 1 starting at 1pm and the clubhouse open from around 10.30am.
