Only one day after the AFL Grand Final and with cold weather yesterday we were not surprised that there was a smallish turn out to Opening Day, we did however have a reasonable number of new faces around the club.

With a couple of weeks before training starts there is still plenty of time to sign up for this years training.

As always the season opener was the Scott Miller Memorial race and though the fleet was a little depleted it was great to see a couple of new boats on the water With Jo-Anne Verrier's new Sabre and Stephen Townsend who upgraded to a Tiger NS.

The race got away at 13:20 with our new start marks used for the first time and though the breeze was far from strong it held on for the whole race and everyone enjoyed there first sail for the season.

The fleet of eight boats being three sabres two NS14s two B14s and a cat had a good even start in the light 5-8 knot NNWesterly. Soon the two B14s cleared out and extended the lead significantly almost lapping the NS14s and Cat at the finish as the other boats were finishing their second lap.

First home was Phantom Steve Miller and Roger Jackson with Early Warning  Ross Daley and Tony Van Galen just over half a minute astern. Viva la Vida and Noiseworks had a good battle with a bit of gamesmanship at the bottom mark the last time with Viva pushing Noiseworks past the mark.

At the finish it was Viva la Vida Darren Eggins and Alastair Lord just pipping  Perry Caulfield to finish third and Noiseworks Stephen Townsend and Jayden Gadischke in fifth, Wasabi won the battle of the siblings coming home next ahead of Apisca (Jo-Anne Verrier) and Loose change at the back.

After the B14s finished the breeze picked up to 12 knots and the other boats came home with a bit of breeze while the B's stayed out to enjoy a couple of spinnaker runs.

On handicap it was

First Early Warning Ross Daley and Tony Van Galen second Phantom Steve Miller and Roger Jackson and in third Wasabi Guy McDougall.

Next week we have Pennants one and two.