October 9, 2025
Port Macquarie Sailing Club Steve Couch in his Laser ‘Lazybuoy’ who won the monohull division.

Port Macquarie Sailing Club

5-10-25

RACE 3 of the spring series was held at the Port Macquarie Sailing Club on Sunday afternoon. The day certainly was an absolute cracker with sunny skies, warm temperatures, and an easy North Easterly breeze. The tide was the last half of the run out. The catamarans sailed 4 laps, and the monohulls sailed 3 laps of a wonderful course set by Terry Howard with 2 Starboard marks down towards Settlement point and 2 more Starboard marks out from the rowing club.

The catamaran fleet consisted of 2 Arrow cats. Frank O’Rourke on ‘Turbo’ won on both scratch and handicap, and Jack Corthals on ‘Crackerjack’ was second in both lots of results.

There were only 4 monohulls competing with some away for the long weekend, Simon Gandy sailing ‘Up Beat’ in the MG14 East Coast Challenge at Queen’s Lake, and a few off the water with injuries.

The division was won by Steve Couch in his Laser ‘Lazybuoy’ who held off Tasmanian visitor Dirk Salm in his Laser ‘St. Helens Tas’. Stuart Symons, who co-opted Kim Williams as crew for her first sail, was the last of the finishers in their Tasar ‘Elmo’. Rob Barwick in his Impulse ‘Drift’ was only 10 minutes into the race when the shackle holding the head of his mainsail failed forcing temporary repairs so he could return to the beach. Gary Williams in his newly purchased Laser ‘Allegro’ had his first shakedown sail in the boat to sus out how to transfer what he has learnt into sailing single handed.

Next Sunday is race 1 of the Handicap Start Series starting at 2pm. Simon Gandy is rostered on duty.

PORT MACQUARIE SAILING CLUB

5-10-25

Race 3 of the spring series was held at the Port Macquarie Sailing Club on Sunday afternoon. The day certainly was an absolute cracker with sunny skies, warm temperatures, and an easy North Easterly breeze. The tide was the last half of the run out. The catamarans sailed 4 laps, and the monohulls sailed 3 laps of a wonderful course set by Terry Howard with 2 Starboard marks down towards Settlement point and 2 more Starboard marks out from the rowing club.

The catamaran fleet consisted of 2 Arrow cats. Frank O’Rourke on ‘Turbo’ won on both scratch and handicap, and Jack Corthals on ‘Crackerjack’ was second in both lots of results.

There were only 4 monohulls competing with some away for the long weekend, Simon Gandy sailing ‘Up Beat’ in the MG14 East Coast Challenge at Queen’s Lake, and a few off the water with injuries.
The division was won by Steve Couch in his Laser ‘Lazybuoy’ who held off Tasmanian visitor Dirk Salm in his Laser ‘St. Helens Tas’. Stuart Symons, who co-opted Kim Williams as crew for her first sail, was the last of the finishers in their Tasar ‘Elmo’. Rob Barwick in his Impulse ‘Drift’ was only 10 minutes into the race when the shackle holding the head of his mainsail failed forcing temporary repairs so he could return to the beach. Gary Williams in his newly purchased Laser ‘Allegro’ had his first shakedown sail in the boat to sus out how to transfer what he has learnt into sailing single handed.

Next Sunday is race 1 of the Handicap Start Series starting at 2pm. Simon Gandy is rostered on duty.

By Jeff WALSH

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