After another bumper crop of trainees got some time on the water it was time the the Anchor wetsuits mini series which this season was run over three races.

The first race got away a bit late at 13:34 with all the boats a bit late getting ready.

There was a steady 10 knot ish WNW breeze at the start with a predicted southerly change likely.

The fleet of five NS14s three B14s three Sabres and a cat made for an interesting start line as with there short races the start is very important.

It was a pretty clean start though Early Warning starting on port ended up ducking half the fleet.  Bang Bang was first at the top mark closely followed by Phantom and Early Warning next, the NS14s had a tight battle with only a few boat lengths separating the whole group.

In the Sabres Chris Keil held the lead from Wasabi and Loose Change missed the start.

By the finish Bang Bang held on to get the gun from Phantom and Early Warning next Viva la Vida was first NS home from Sundaze followed by Serenity from Aquaholic (the cat) then Pumpkin Eater.

On handicap it was:

Bang Bang Stephen Mitchell and Adrianne Daley first from Viva la Vida Darren Eggins and Alastair Lord second and Pumpkin Eater Melinda Lord and Georgia Ottway third.

Race 2

A very bussy start line saw a couple of boats held up and it took a while for the faster boats the get to the lead. At the top mark it was Phantom from Bang Bang with Early Warning in third and Pumpkin Eater was leading the NS14s who were again separated by very little.

Loose Change was ahead of Wasabi but trailing Chris Keil and Aquaholic right in the middle of the fleet. As the boats approached the wing mark not long after the B14s were able to hoist their kites there was a massive 90' wind shift to the south nessesitating a quick kite drop and short windward to the wing mark,

Phantom just managed to hold the lead and with the next three legs beam reaches the kites stayed down, Bang Bang damaged the halyard lock on the hoist and retired and everyone else settled in for a drag race to the bottom mark, quick jybe and reach to the old windward and then a tack and reach back to the bottom mark and out to the windward again. Perry in the cat thought it was christmas with all the reaches and the rest of the fleet just sailed around single file. Then it was a short windward out to the old wing mark and a reach in to the bottom and a jybe then reach to the finish.

Phantom held on for line honours from Early Warning with the NS's still tight but Serenity took the gun from Viva la Vida then  Sundaze and Spinifex with Pumpkin Eater dropping back. Aquaholic had been doing realy well on the reaches but had an issue tacking on the short windward and dropped well back.

Chris Keil had a good lead over Loose Change with Wasabi last.

On Handicap it was:

Spinifex Peter and Karen Davis first from Serenity Scott Wilkie and Lucas Foerder and Sundaze Sam and Lindy Bailey.

One interesting side note is the temperature dropped from over 17' to 12' when the southerly hit with the wind speed increasing to 15knots and a gust over 20 though it was short lived and settled down to 12 and 16 and continued to drop.

Race 3 

A number of boats did not contest the final race with Bang Bang gear damage, Phantom sick crew and Early Warning dropped out with no other Bs to race Aquaholic also did not contest as did Pumpkin Eater.

After resetting the course the race got away in the now southerly with four NS's and three Sabrers.

Spinifex took a liking to the conditions and took the gun eleven seconds clear of Sundaze with Viva la Vida one second in arrears and Serenity another second behind giving Helen in the start boat plenty of work.

In the Sabres Chris Keil was well clear of Loose Change and Wasabi just four seconds back.

On handicap:

Spinifex first Sundaze second and Serenity in third.

The overall result was very close with

Sundaze Sam and Lindy Baily first with 9 points from Viva la Vida Darren Eggins and Alastair Lord second 10 points and Spinifex Peter and Karen Davis third 12 points.

Next week is more training from 9:00 and double pennant in the afternoon from 13:00.