What a day with perfect conditions both in the morning and later after lunch the best breeze all season so far.
The New trainees had a chance to practice righting the boat after a capsize on a nice warm day and in pleasant water, with the more advanced group getting a full morning on the water.
After lunch a fleet of six NS14's two Sabres and a B14 headed out after a short wait for the breeze to build.
Pennant 3 got away at 13:48 in a building SSE breeze of around 14 knots with gusts to around 17 knots. After a tight battle to the first mark it was Phantom first around from Viva la Vida going very well with a brand new set of sails. Next in a tight group was Sundaze, Serenity and Spinifex. In the Sabres Sweet Disposition was clear of Loose Change and held the lead for the remainder of the race, The next leg was very broad and after the wing mark a shy reach to the bottom.
The breeze continued to build and with the downwind on the sausage now a broad reach the race finished with a quick last triangle, Phantom was finished in 22 minutes followed three and a half minutes astern by Viva la Vida and then Sundaze 27 seconds behind and Serenity just two seconds away.
Yardstick
Div 1 1st Sweet Disposition Lauren Keil 2nd Loose Change Phil Bloomfield
Div 2 1st Phantom Steve Miller and Roger Jackson, 2nd Viva la Vida Darren Eggins and Alastair Lord 3rd Sundaze Sam & Lindy Bailey
Handicap
Div 1 1st Sweet Disposition 2nd Loose Change
Div 2 1st Viva la Vida 2nd Sundaze 3rd Phantom
Pennant 4
After a bit of re alignment and lengthening of the course the race got away at 14:42 with a still SE breeze of around 16 knots with gusts to 21 knots. With the line also adjusted it was quite an even start with the boats very tight all the way up the first leg, again it was Phantom first just a small distance clear of Viva la Vida with the other NS 14s in a very tight bunch and again Sweet Disposition ahead of Loose Change in the Sabres. As the race progressed Phantom revelled in the conditions and had a substantial lead at the finish with a lead of just over seven minutes from Viva la Vida and then Serenity 10 seconds astern and after probably the closest and best race so far this season the next three boats were separated by one second each with Sundaze then Under the Radar and then Spinifex.
Yardstick Result
Div 1 Sweet Disposition 2nd Loose Change
Div 2 1st Phantom, 2nd Viva la Vida and 3rd Serenity Scott Wilkie and Lucas Foerder.
Handicap
Div 1 1st Loose Change 2nd Sweet Disposition
Div 2 1st Viva la Vida 2nd Sundaze and 3rd Phantom
Next week is the Pittwater Regatta on both Saturday and Sunday and there will be no training.
