14-12-25
RACE 2 of the Port Macquarie Sailing Club’s Handicap Start series was held on Sunday under sunny skies and with a run in tide. The forecast easy North Easter arrived but failed to strengthen as was forecast. Tony & Julian Kuhn were on duty and set a longish course in readiness for the strengthening North Easter which unfortunately didn’t materialise. The start was a work downriver to a Starboard mark in the mouth of Limeburners Creek, a reach across to another Starboard mark off Stevens Street, a run to a Port Mark opposite the Sailing Club and continuing to a Starboard mark off the Governors Way Canal, another reach across the river to a final Starboard mark, then a work back to the Start/Finish line to complete the lap. The Arrow Cats did 4 laps and the Monohulls did 3 laps. The failure of the wind to strengthen made it quite a long race.
2 Arrow cats lined up for the catamaran division, and with the light conditions, Frank O’Rourke on ‘Turbo’ started 15 minutes behind new Arrow sailor Stuart Symons on ‘Phoenix’ and reeled him in and finished well ahead.
The Monohull division had 6 starters, and Paul Robertson sailed with his daughter Jade in their Tasar ‘Flembouyant’, starting last as scratch boat and just managed to overtake the rest of the fleet for the win. Simon Gandy and Ezra Mert in another Tasar ‘Voyager’ were 2nd ahead of Steve Bohlen who sailed alone (which suited the conditions) in his MG14 ‘Interceptor’ for 3rd, the rapidly improving Dave and Logan McNeill in their Tasar ‘Toy of Joy’ 4th, Rob Barwick in an Impulse ‘Drift’ 5th, and Steve Couch in a Laser ‘Lazybuoy’ 6th.
Next week race is Race 8 of the Spring Series starting at 2pm and Dave Winter is on duty.
By Jeff WALSH
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