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Tales 25th & 26th February 2006
An exceptional weekend of sailing began with
Race Management team Deppeler & Melville reinforcing
the need to observe & understand flags and their
meanings. Having initially set a course to suit the
westerly wind, race mgt abandoned the short course
race and dramatically reset the course predicting
a 90° shift to the south. The wind remained uncertain
but after two further postponements and a change from
a red flag to a green flag, every skipper remained
alert to the instructions to sail a starboard, clockwise
course, contrary to the clubhouse briefing.
The wind did finally swing to the south and provided
the necessary beat to windward to test competitors’
skills against tide and wind in the middle and final
stages of the race. And what a race! Assisted by the
nimble, athletic and ear to ear grinning Peter Geekie,
young Shayne Lindsey demonstrated world championship
potential as he blitzed the field like a small jockey
on a thoroughbred mare. Showing courage and focus
Lindsey left a trail of vapor as everyone followed
Not Your Average White Boat in the steadily increasing
breeze.
Lids & Leo read every shift, trimmed beautifully
and managed a skilful race to take second over the
line followed by a determined and wet Millar &
Bourne who took a well recovered tumble at the gybe
mark.
In fourth place a remarkable sail by Capt Bill Gross
in the classic 36 footer Tumbleweed. Not surprisingly
Bill took first place on corrected time by a massive
eleven minutes. Well done Bill.
Fifth, Sixth and Seventh places saw a fierce battle
on the final windward leg as In The Blue, Miss Molly
and Zappa approached the line in a nail biting finish
from the middle, right and far right of the course.
It was Russell Smith and son Andrew who chose the
correct line and hung on to beat Zappa and Miss Molly
by a shackle key, leaving about the same distance
between them and the mark.
The indefatigable commodore Master Marriner, along
with daughter Kerry brought Interlude over the line
shortly after with their senior card holding crew,
closely followed by Ashley Cooke & Dave Ferry
on April Dancer making their second appearance this
season and held back only by an uncontrollable outhaul
and fuller than required mainsail.
Trailing the fleet in their antique little 420 Paddlepop
came the novice husband and wife team of Craig &
Wendy Jenner. Craig, sporting his duck hunter inspired
sailing cap and white zinced face, and the diminutive
trapeze hanging Wendy are to be commended for their
sheer grit and determination to take on the bigger
boats and more experienced crews. In racing parlance
team Jenner is the one to watch!
Club Championship Results On Corrected Time:
1Tumbleweed; 2 Windswept; 3 Zappa; 4 In The Blue;
5 Interlude; 6 NYAWB; 7 Miss Molly; 8 Paddlepop;
9 Sweatshop; 10 April Dancer.
Sunday saw the inaugural A.B.S.C. Bluewater Sailing
Cruise. A long time dream of Commodore Marriner, and
destined to be an annual event, our first foray into
cruising saw five ocean going vessels hoist spinnakers
and sail with dolphins around Cape Patton before dropping
anchor at Wye River. Wye River responded to the sudden
dramatic appearance of the A.B.S.C. Armada on their
tiny beach with unprecedented hospitality. Surf Rescue
taxied us ashore and the Rookery Nook Hotel presented
their finest fare and beverage in the most pristine
of settings. Congratulations to all for making this
event one to be savored, and one to be repeated.
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