2016

Tony Mulder Pittwater Regatta 2016

Day two of the Tony Mulder Pittwater Regatta had some exciting close racing and a lovelly warm day with everyone enjoying a great day on the water.

We lost Avengers to family illness and picked up Spinifex so the numbers were as on Saturday.

Again the breeze kept the competitors and race officer Helen Eggins guessing but this time we only moved once from a southerly to a Northerly.

The first race of the day got away on time at 12:00 with standard starts with all the boats on starboard,

Adrian Beswick was late getting ready and just managed to start inside the 3 minute time limit after the start yet was able to move through the fleet on the first windward.

At the top mark Bondi Tram was the first B14 and Norwegian Blue continued its great form to be first NS.

The wind had clocked left and so the second windward saw a new windward mark as the breeze built a bit.

Arctic, Gumblossom and Under the Radar headed to the middle of the coarse as most of the fleet worked out to the ley lines.

At the gun the first boats home were Bondi Tram who just held on to keep Rocket Ship to second by less than a second with Phantom third.

Then the NS 14s with Norwegian Blue first Spinifex second and Gum Blossom third.

Loose Change had an easy win as the only Sabre.

Race two saw the Sabre and NS's get away ok but the B14s got a bit anxious and there was a general recall.

At the restart calmer heads prevailed and there was a clean start.

At the top mark yet again Norwegian Blue was ahead being 45sec clear of Spinfex then Arctic, Under the Radar and Gumblossom. With Bumps just ahead of Pumpkin Eater at the back of the leading group. In the B14s Rocket Ship was first 30sec from Phantom, Bondi Tram missed the mark and had to reround so next was Get Nicked ahead of The Turtle.

At the finish Rocket Ship was again first home from Phantom then Get Nicked in third Norwegian Blue was the first NS followed by Under the Radar with Bumps third.

There was then a 180~ wind shift and so the start boat led the fleet to the south of the coarse for the remaining two starts.

Race three of the day had three clear starts in the freshening but shifty NE-N breeze that had an occasional NW gust for good measure.

At the top mark the first time it was Rocket Ship from Phantom with Get Nicked close behind then Bondi Tram who got tangled with the mark and then a tangle of the Kite and jib made it interesting.

In the NS14s it was Norwegian Blue just clear of Bumps with Josh and Aiden showing great speed and concentration next Pumpkin Eater followed by Under the Radar. There was then a gap to Arctic, Gum Blossom and Magic and Loss closing fast.

As Rocket Ship rounded the last mark Aquatherapy and Loose Change finished the first lap.

At the finish it was Rocket Ship from Phantom with Get Nicked and Bondi Tram flying home on a nice gust.

The NS14s Norwegian Blue added another first to the collection followed by Under the Radar with Bumps in third.

The final race of the day was again in the northish wind with large fluctuations in both strength and direction.

All classes got away to clean starts with the tough decision to go left, right or up the middle and there were gains to be had anyware but also some holes and savage shifts.

In the B14s it was a tight battle right to the bottom mark where Get Nicked held the lead until a capsize pushed them back to 6th despite a lightning fast recovery kite still up.

In the NS14s Under the Rader led from Norwegian Blue close behind and Bumps on her tail. Then Gum Blosson just clear of Spinifex and Pumpkin Eater with Arctic back a bit and then Magic & Loss. Loose Change and Jump'n Jack Flash were neck and neck as they closed out the fleet.

J J F had a spinaker tangle letting Loose Change back in front.

Get Nicked recovered well after taking a big dig out to the right and when they crossed back were clear ahead of Rocket Ship and Phantom in a close duel with Bondi Tram not far back,

As Get Nicked taked ahead of Phantom she tacked for clear air collecting a lift and preasure when taking back to be first at the top mark clear of Rocket Ship followed by Get Nicked and Bondi Tram.

Phantom held the lead to the finish followed by Rocket Ship second and Get Nicked third.

The NS14s saw Under the Radar break Norwegian Blues strangle hold on first but she was still second followed by Gum Blossom.

There was some excellent racing and after seven races with one drop the final results were.

Sabre Loose Change Phil Bloomfield.

NS14

1st Norwegian Blue Scott Wilkie & Gus Wilkie on 7 points

2nd Pumpkin Eater Darren Eggins & Alistair Lord 24 points

3rd Arctic Sam Bailey & Lindy Bailey 25 points

B14

1st Rocket Ship Adrian Beswick & Josh Phillips 8 points

2nd Phantom Steve Miller & Lauren Bird 11 points

3rd Bondi Tram Stephen Mitchell with Melinda Lord and Adrian Bell 21 points.