Day 1
A good fleet and promising breeze as we headed out however as usual this season a very changeable and difficult breeze restricted us to just one race.
So now we have an early 10:00am start for tomorrows racing with hopefully seven races.
The first and only race finally got away at 2:08 in a Northerly of sorts after the early southerly droped out. The fleet of sixteen Sabres were a bit frisky with two boats OCS but not returning after the start. The B14's were next with everybody well back from the line with a big fade out and the NS 14s last away in a clean start.
The breeze continued to fade and on the second lap near the finish line it dropped and shifted to a southerly for a while.
In the Sabres Bullet with Buterfly Wings was first home from Fr'alan however as they were both OCS missed out on the points with Bert Stephen Bradfield first official finisher with No Mischief Mike Darby second and Jinx Jason Followes third TBA (2176) Daniel Woods forth and BBB Chris Boon fifth.
In the B14s Bondi Tram Scott Foster and Mike Fuller was first from Bang Bang Stephen Mitchell and Sarah Krulow second and Phantom Steve Miller and Roger Jackson third and in the NS14s Bumps Pat Hutton and Georgia Ottway was first from Spinifex Peter and Karen Davis second and Viva la Vida Darren Eggins and Alastair Lord third.
After re setting the course there was another attempt at a start but the wind died and the RO abandoned that start and eventually called it a day and sent everyone ashore.
A big day tomorrow with seven races to be completed with an early start of 10:00am
Day 2
We managed to get six races in today spread over two sessions morning and afternoon but it certainly wasn't easy as the breeze blew from every direction imaginable and we had wind strengths from near zero to over 25knots.
The first three races were sailed in the morning and then after lunch back out for hopefully another four.
Race 2 (first for the day) Sabres was won by Bullet with Buterfly Wings from Vinylester Madness second and BBB third Birt fourth and Hailstorm third. NS14s Supersonic Cyril first Bumps second and Spinifex third and in the B14s On the Pole first Shmoo second and Bondi Tram third.
Race 3 Sabres TBA 2130 first Jinx second and Zap third Bert fourth and Fralan fifth, in the NS14s Supersonic Cyril first Bumps second and Serenity third and B14s On the Pole first Phantom second and Shmoo third.
Race 4 was the last before the lunch break with Sabres Bullet with Butterfly Wings first from TBA 2130 second and TBA 2176 third and Vinylester madness fourth and BBB fifth.
In the NS14s it was Cyril again first from Viva la Vida second and Bumps third and B14s Schmoo first from Bondi Tram second and On the Pole third.
After lunch there was a bit more breeze and the fleet headed out with renewed hope of good racing.
Race five was initially set for a southerly but eventually got away in a generally westerly breeze and in the Sabres it was The Bullit again first from Jinx second and Vinylester Madness third and Bert fourth and BBB fifth.
In the NS 14s Cyril again was first from Noiseworks second and Spinifex third and in the B14s Schmoo first from Phantom second and Bondi tram third.
Race 6 saw the Sabres get away in a fresh SW breeze but before the next start could start the breeze swung hard right and Helen called the race off and got the boats back.
By the time the next race got away the breeze had freshened significantly and was well in the 20s at times pretty hard going
After the re start in the Sabres it was Jinx first Bullit second and TBA 2130 third Vinylester Madness fourth and Hailstorm fifth.
In the NS14s it was Viva la Vida first Spinifex second and Bumps third and the B14s Bondi Tram first Schmoo second and Phantom third.
Race seven and the breeze was still on and it was getting very cold but the show must go on and in the Sabres it was Bullit first from Jinx second and Vinylester third with TBA 2176 fourth and Halestorm fifth.
In the NS14s it was Cyril first Viva second and Bumps third and all the B14s had returned to shore to warm up.
Over all the prize winners were
Sabres Jinx Jason Followes first Bullet with Butterfly Wings Richard Parker second and TBA Chris Keil in third.
NS14s Supersonic Cyril Nick McElwee and Holly James first Bumps Pat Hutton and Georgia Ottway second and Viva la Vida Darren Eggins and Alastair Lord third.
B14s Schmoo Charlotte Armstrong and Fletcher McCormach first Bondi Tram Scott Foster and Mike Fuller and On the Pole Brady Tassiker and Nick Richardson third.
A big thank you to all the volunteers that made the Regatta possible, with a special mention for
Helen Eggins in the Start Boat ably assisted by Andrew Verrier, Marlene Nichols canteen manager and chef ably assisted by Bev Mitchell. In the rescue boats Mick Emery, Michael Verrier, Owen, Perry Caulfield, Steve Biggs, James and Jude, Paul Rayner and Drew and at late notice Stephen Mitchell. And many more who helped out in various ways.
Certainly a memorable Regatta with some interesting sailing, good food and company before and after racing, see you all again next year.
