Port Macquarie Sailing Club

PORT Macquarie Sailing Club were to hold the Sprint Series races 12 – 16 on Sunday, but with many members away at other regattas and the wind on the Hastings almost non-existent, the 3 boats that turned up to sail, along with the duty officer and starter decided not to sail.

However, the boats that were away did get in quite a bit of sailing.

Three boats went to the regatta to join a fleet of over 60 boats at Big River Sailing Club at Harwood on the Clarence River, sailing in a rather strong South Easter on the Saturday and a lighter and more fluky breeze on the Sunday.

Frank O’Rourke on his Arrow Cat ‘Zero’ won the 13 strong Catamaran class, beating an F18 cat, some Wetas, Nacra’s, and a Hobie 18. Simon Gandy met his daughter Elsa halfway (she goes to uni in Brisbane and sails up there) to sail together in his MG14 ‘Vamos’ to come 5^th out of the 14 strong Division 2 and was the first MG14.

Steve Bohlsen and daughter Lucy also sailed together on their MG14 ‘Interceptor’.

Jeff Walsh travelled to Great Lakes Sailing Club south of Forster on Wallace Lake for part of the Impulse traveller’s series. This will be the location for the NSW State titles in November and the National titles next February, so it was a good chance to scope out the conditions. The event was piggy backed onto the Scow Moth and Lowriders State Championships at the venue. Saturday produced a nice sailable South Easter, but Sunday was a rather light and patchy South Easter, once it came in.

There was about 8 Impulses, 20 Moths, and about 10 local boats, making for a good fleet. Jeff Walsh in ‘Serenity’ was in his usual position in an Impulse fleet, near the back.

Paul Robertson and Jack Corthals sailed the Tasar ‘Flembouyant’ in the NSW Tasar State Titles at Speers Point Sailing Club on Lake Macquarie.

They had a great weekend with a 3^rd placing.

Several other members were in Sydney watching the GP 50s sailing in the Sail GP event there.

Congratulations to the Americans on their win with Australia coming in 5^th.

Next week is a double header with Race 7 of the Summer Series starting at 11.30 and the 5^th Club Championship starting at 2.00. Simon Gandy is on duty.

By Jeff WALSH