THE Port MacDonnell sailing club enjoyed perfect day on Saturday for the Discovery Bay Coastal Classic.
With 11 boats starting over the period from 11.30am to 1.50pm, depending on each boat’s club handicap, this set the scene for a top day on the water.
With the wind from the west, all the big boats started with their kites up and headed to the east of Port MacDonnell in a great spectacle.
The next buoy saw all the boats gybed and head into Discovery Bay.
With some initial confusion on the inshore buoys location, the fleet was a little spread out, but once located the fleet started coming back together for the sail back to Port MacDonnell.
As the monohull fleet started to round the sea buoy, the catamarans where starting to come around flying hulls and having a great time, with all three cats – One Toy Too Many, skippered by Brad Mann with Joe McMahon, Lethal Weapon, skippered by Darryl Brooksby with Damian McMahon and I Was Once, skippered by Greg Graham – having a great tussle for position and enjoying the wind and water.
At this point in the race the faster boats began to make ground on the early starters and looking to overtake them.
A great performer on the day was Harmony, skippered by Don McLennan with Phil Myers, Margaret Pulford and Nick Watson, being first of the big boats across the finish line.
Harmony was followed home by Farr-Mer, skippered by Dave Evans with John Post and David Sigley.
Dennis Illman, with Lu-Wei Spinks and Tom Paltridge skippered Mirage home in third, while Papillon came home in fifth, skippered by Mack Ferguson with Phil Pulford and Jen Jones.
Sherwin Road managed fifth place, skippered by David Carlyle, with Peter Seebohm and Max Scheinger, but Greg Graham stole the day aboard I Was Once, claiming the outright victory on the day.
Other competitors on the water who did not finish on the day where Salt Peter (skipper Robin White with Sharon White and Neville Stone), Full Moon (skipper Nick Rishworth with Peter and Andrew Rishworth), Sandrine (skipper Chris Lynch with Kevin and Judy Knot and David Bryson), One toy too many and Leathal Weapon.
In the wash up it proved to be a top day of sailing, enjoyed by all on the water.
A special thanks went to rescue boat driver Kevin Johnston with Neill Thomson on board as officer of the day and the crew back in the clubhouse keeping track of the times.
Racing again will return at 1pm tomorrow, with scheduled race officer Dennis Illman on the committee boat.
The clubhouse will be open from 10.30am to watch the action on the water or ask around for a spot on board for the afternoon.
