A BLUE, cloudless sky did not guarantee a gentle day on the water for the boats of the Port MacDonnell Sailing Club.
The forecast for 19-20 knot winds was accurate and, with the chop, it was a hard but exhilarating afternoon’s work for the 10 boats that took to the water.
Race officer Dave Evans and Chris Jacobs on the rescue boat set a classic course for the two races, which also made up part of the club’s Austral 20 championship.
It was a tight start line, with Noelex, Sherwin Road crossing first, with Austral20, Mirage close behind.
The fleet stayed tight, with all 10 boats starting in the same direction to the first mark.
The fleet spread out after rounding the first mark and Sherwin Road, skippered by David Carlyle, held onto the lead to take line honours.
Sonata Sport, Harmony with Don McLennan at the helm came across the line second.
The conditions did not ease off for the second race and Sabre, Billy, with Nick Watson at the tiller, retired before starting as the conditions were too rough for the small, single-person boat.
It was a closely-contested start line for the second race, with new boat Pinky at the front of the fleet.
Mirage crossed the start line first, with Sherwin Road close behind.
Austral 20, Windy Fred, with skipper Tom Paltridge, and Mirage, skippered by Dennis Illman, had a good tussle during the second race with Windy Fred coming out on top.
Austral 20, Salt Peter with Robin White at the helm also found some competition against Court 650, Pinky, with Jen Jones as skipper, before the Austral 20 pulled away on the last lap.
Line honours in race two also went to Sherwin Road and again Harmony came in close behind.
Stephen Dyble’s Austral 20, Minty and Chris Lynch on Noelex, Sandrine both had breakages and were unable to finish the second race.
Results on class basic handicap
Race 1: Billy (N. Watson); Sherwin Road (D. Carlyle); Windy Fred (T. Paltridge); Papillon (M. Ferguson); Pinky (J. Jones); Sandrine (C. Lynch); Minty (S. Dyble); Mirage (D. Illman); Harmony (D. McLennan); Salt Peter (R. White).
Race 2: Windy Fred (T. Paltridge); Sherwin Road (D. Carlyle); Mirage (D. Illman); Pinky (J. Jones); Papillon (M. Ferguson); Salt Peter (R. White); Harmony (D. McLennan); DNF: Sandrine (C. Lynch); Minty (S. Dyble). DNS – Billy (N. Watson).
