19-10-25
THE Port Macquarie Sailing Club held their 2nd double header on Sunday, which consisted of race 4 of the Spring Series in the morning, a BBQ lunch, and the 2nd Club Championship race in the afternoon. The forecast was for little to no wind for the morning race, but fortunately this was incorrect as there was a nice, lightish North Easterly and mostly sunny skies. The North Easter strengthened a little for the afternoon race. The tide ran out during the morning race, and the afternoon race was held around the slack water at low tide. Rob Barwick set a shortish North Easter course consisting of work to a Port A mark off Stevens Street, a run back up river to the Port B mark opposite the clubhouse, a reach across to a Starboard C mark just above the club beach, and another reach to another Starboard D mark opposite the rowing club.
There were no catamarans racing, but Frank O’Rourke on his Arrow Cat ‘Zero’ was away representing the club at the Mannering Park 14’/Phil Johnston Memorial Regatta where he came 2nd, missing the win by one point.
Race 4 of the Spring Series in the morning saw 5 Monohulls line up for the start of the 3 lap race. Terry Howard in his Impulse ‘Flying Dragon’ had a cracker of a race, crossing the finish line first, which, when the yardsticks were applied, gave him the yardstick win by 7½ minutes. Simon Gandy had Dave McNeil take the helm of his Tasar ‘Voyager’ for training and they came 2nd followed by Stuart Symons and Kim Williams in their Tasar ‘Elmo’, then Reid and Tyler Lucas in ‘Red Star’, another Tasar. Steve and Lucy Bohlsen also sailed their MG14 ‘Interceptor’ and would have come next but were OCS (On Course Side – broke the start) and failed to re-start.
‘Flying Dragon’ also took the handicap win, ahead of ‘Elmo’, ‘Voyager’, and ‘Red Star’.
The 2nd Club Championship race in the afternoon was a 4 lap race due to the improving North Easter. Steve Couch in his Tasar ‘Lazybuoy’ sailed very well to take the yardstick win ahead of ‘Voyager’, ‘Elmo’, and ‘Interceptor’.
The handicap results were also ‘Lazybuoy’, ‘Voyager’, ‘Elmo’, and ‘Interceptor’.
Next Sunday is the next round of the sprint series, races 6 – 10, starting at 11.30am with 2 or 3 short races, a lunch break, then 2 or 3 more short races. Gary Herbert is on duty.
By Jeff WALSH
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