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Tales 8th April, 2006
The sailing conditions on race day provided
those who turned up to the harbour with an opportunity
for some real excitement, a rare opportunity to test
their skills if they dared to slip out the harbour
entrance between sets. It was always going to be a
challenging sort a Saturday afternoon for all participants.
The course was short, the bay was lumpy, the swell
was big at 2-3 metres which probably suited surfing
more than our sailing comrades and the wind was a
comfortable and steady 15 - 25 knots SSW or thereabouts.
The race started bang on time with one fireball, one
505, two flying fifteens and then the 3 keel boats
in 5, 10 and 15 minute intervals.
The stand out for the day was the almost flawless
performance by Not Your Average White Boat ( NYAWB).
Once they went through the start line that was it,
they were never sighted by the fleet again, until
the end of the race that is. Pete and Stewie had sailed
brilliantly all day and then they attempted the impossible,
they “chucked up the nacka”, it was an
awesome site and yet as they neared finish line it
all went horribly wrong. If only their skills extended
to include sailing with an 8 inch rudder they could
have immortalised themselves and won the day. Instead
they limped passed the finish line, declined rescue
boat assistance, (who wouldn’t after having
conquering all before them) and promptly got swamped
a few minutes later flipped the yacht and snapped
the mast. It was real riches to rags kind of day for
NYAWB getting a DNF as well. Lids and Leo in Windswept
sailed a great race all day and finished appropriately
taking the club championship points ahead of Sweatshop
which seemed to be taking control of Matt and Gary
most of the day and Miss Molly which was sailed well
in the conditions by Captain Col and Doug.
Interlude got of to a great start, looked fantastic
as it punched its way through the swell on its way
toward the windward mark, actually it was the only
keel boat to start on time. Tumbleweed was well out
to sea trying to find the out-hall shackle and Jubilation
was just leaving the harbour. But as fate would have
it that would be the furthest Interlude would be in
front all day. Jubilation joined the race all be it
incorrectly, Tumbleweed sorted out its problems, with
the crew finding the missing shackle in the cockpit
and they were all in the race. After a leg or so Jubilation
as seems usual these days passed the other keel boats
and almost caught Miss Molly after giving them some
20 minutes head start. Tumbleweed slowly and doggedly
pegged Interlude back, as they both tacked 200 metres
from the finish line it was neck and neck, good tactics
by Tumbleweed saw it crossing the line seconds in
front.
From our privileged, sheltered vantage point anchored
500 metres off shore in these conditions provided
the rescue boat crew with limited opportunity to really
view and assess the performances of the club’s
sailing elite. However it was an excellent days sailing
and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Well done folks.
Results:
Club Championship
1st Windswept
2nd Sweatshop
3rd Miss Molly
Fishmongers
1st Windswept
2nd Sweatshop
3rd Miss Molly
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