A tricky day, for competitors and the start boat. We got two races in and some good racing was on offer.
No training until next week so only the two trophy races today. Compared to saturday it was pretty usable conditions but with some wild swings in the breeze the start boat had a hard time getting us off to a fair start. The breeze strengthened later offering some exciting rides.
Race one got away at 13:35 with a good fleet of six Sabres, three NS14s, three B14s and a Tasar and Windsurfer in a crazy WNW to W breeze of about 8 knots that quickly built to 15 knots and some gusts to 20.
The boats at the port end of the line had first use of a stronger westerly shift and were first at the top mark, unfortunately the breeze mainly stayed in the west so the first leg was a reach followed by a windward to the wing mark and run to the bottom mark meaning the sausage was a double reach. The net effect was to keep the fleet quit condenced.
At the finish it was Phantom first followed by Maritimo 4 minutes astern and closly followed by Sundaze just 6 seconds astern in third. In the Sabres Sweet Disposition clear of TBA retirements were Early Warning after a crash capsize on the downwind and Mussle Tone who needed a quick trip ashore to repair a diamond..
On handicap it was the Windsurfer first Wind Wizard second and Phantom third.
The Second race got away at 15:01 with the same fleet less the Windsurfer and Maritimo who dropped the mast on the start line with a mast pin failure.
While the wind was very changable we had a real windward to the top mark and on all three laps making for better racing.
At the finish it was Phantom first just over two minutes clear of Early Warning with Mussle Tone third a bit over 4 minutes furthur astern and Sundaze just 7 seconds back, in the Sabres it was Sweet Disposition again from TBA just 13 seconds astern.
On Handicap it was Phantom first Early Warning second and Sundaze third.
Overall it was Phantom Steve Miller and Safiya Davidson first 3-1=4 with Wind Wizard Sarah Michael 1-5=6 second and Sundaze Sam & Lindy Bailey 5-3=8 third
Next Saturday is the Sail our Way event for female sailors and on Sunday training kicks off at 9:00 with Pennants 3 & 4 in the afternoon.
