The day got away with drizzle and the strongest breeze for the day and it was great to see the trainees out on the water.

The first pennant started right on time at 13:05 with a good fleet of Five Sabres five NS14s and three B14's. The race got away to a pretty even start in an 11 to 13knot SSW breeze with the weather slowly clearing but also the breeze slowly dropping.. By the first marks Phantom had a reasonable lead after going right early with Bang Bang next and Sundaze heading up the NS 14s ahead of Serenity with Pumpkin Eater just astern. In the Sabres Sweet Disposition quickly moved into the lead and held of the rest of the fleet for the entire race with Wasabi and Loose Change fighting out the the minor placings. It was great to see Jo-Anne Verrier in Wettas getting back into sailing after a long break and quickly becoming competitive.

The breeze was reasonably stable for the balance of the race with Phantom home first a minute and a half clear of Bang Bang and Early Warning nearly a minute furthur back. Sundaze was first NS home five minutes astern of Early Warning. Next was Serenity thirty seconds astern followed by Pumpkin Eater. In the Sabres Sweet Disposition had a clear win a minute to  Wasabi  and Loose Change sixteen seconds astern.

On Yardstick

Div 1 First Sweet Disposition Lauren Keil second Wasabi Guy McDougall and third Loose Change Phil Bloomfield.

Div 2 First Phantom Steve Miller and Sarah Haywood second Sundaze Sam & Lindy Bailey and third Serenity Scott Wilkie and Lucas Foerder.

Handicap

Div 1 First  Wettas Jo-Anne Verrier second  Loose Change third Sweet Disposition.

Div 2 First  Pumpkin Eater Josh Eggins and  Lewis Bowen second Bang Bang Stephen Mitchell and Adrianne Daley third Viva la Vida Darren Eggins and Alistair Lord.

Pennat two

The second pennant got away at 14:11 with a reduced fleet with Bang Bang and Wind Wizard not starting.

Unfortunately Viva la Vida capsized during the start sequence and after a second capsize crew Alastair Lord hurt his elbow and the boat was forced to retire. True rest of the fleet got away fairly evenly again with a tight battle up the first windward leg seeing Phantom again first to the top mark with  Sundaze, Serenity, Pumpkin Eater and Early Warning all tight at the first mark Again Sweet Disposition led the Sabres with Loose Change having the edge on Wasabi.

The race was a bit trickier as the breeze dropped a couple of times and a swing around into the SSE and the occasional stronger gust made picking the breeze essential.

By the finish Phantom had a substantial lead of eight minutes over Serenity but due to the dropping breeze this race took 57 minutes. Next was Early Warning just two seconds astern with  Under the Radar next. In the Sabres it was again Sweet Disposition nearly four minutes ahead of  Loose Change with Wasabi next 25 seconds astern.

On Yardstick

Div 1 First Sweet Disposition  second Loose Change and third Wasabi.

Div 2 First Serenity  second Phantom and third Under the Radar Melinda Lord and Georgia Ottway.

Handicap

Div 1 first Loose Change second Wettas and third Sweet Disposition.

Div 2 First Pumpkin Eater second Phantom third Serenity.

Next week we have the second week of Training and two Trophy Races.