Port Macquarie Sailing Club

26-10-25

THE first round on the sprint race series was held at the Port Macquarie Sailing Club on Sunday afternoon on what was supposed to be the second round after the original first round from last month was not sailed. This round consisted of 2 single lap races before lunch then 2 single lap races and a 2 lap race after lunch, a total of 5 races. The day certainly was a cracker with sunny skies, warm temperatures, and a North Easterly breeze that was lightish in the morning but was lovely for the afternoon. The tide was the last of the run in that pretty much finished running by the time the morning races had ended and was starting to run out for the afternoon races. The course saw a work up to a Port mark A off King Point, a run to another Port mark B opposite the Rowing Club, and a third Port Mark C in the mouth of the Governors Way canal followed by another short work to the finish. Gary Herbert was on duty assisted by Jeff Walsh.

The catamaran fleet consisted of Scott Witchard on ‘Lukim Yu’ who missed the 2 morning races but sailed the 3 afternoon races for the points (and the fun).

The monohull division was where the action was. Race 1 saw Simon Gandy and Ezra Mert in their NS14 ‘Upbeat’ cross the finish line first, but once the yardsticks were applied, Terry Howard in his Impulse ‘Flying Dragon’ beat them to the win by 2 seconds. Third place was Rob Barwick in his Impulse ‘Drift’ followed a little while later by Paul Robertson and Dave McNeil in their Tasar ‘Flembouyant’ who were late rigging and starting.

Race 2 for the monohulls was won by ‘Flembouyant’ who this time started with the fleet, followed by ‘Upbeat’ who turned the tables on ‘Flying Dragon’ by beating them by 3 seconds after yardsticks were applied. ‘Drift’ rounded out the fleet in 4th.

After lunch, the 3^rd race for the monohulls had the yardsticks once again helping the Impulses with ‘Flying Dragon’ taking the win ahead of 2^nd place ‘Drift’. 3^rd was our Tasmanian visitor Dirk Salm in his Laser ‘St. Helens Tas’ followed by ‘Flembouyant’, 3 seconds ahead of ‘Upbeat’.

Race 4 for the monohulls had ‘Upbeat’ take the win, then came ‘Drift’, ‘St. Helens Tas’, and after yardsticks were applied, 6 seconds later, ‘Flembouyant’. ‘Flying Dragon’ had problems on the bear away at the A mark and went in backwards and copped a bang on the head from the gybing boom, causing him to retire for the afternoon.

The 2 lap race 5 for the monohulls saw ‘St. Helens Tas’ revel in the building North Easter to take the yardstick win off ‘Upbeat’. ‘Flembouyant’ got a good start but broke a jib halyard on the first work off the start line and was forced to retire. ‘Drift’ had had enough for the day an elected not to sail this race.

Next week is our Spring Marathon which will see the fleet race from the Club, down river to the Town Green, then up river to the Pacific Highway (as long as there is enough breeze up there), then back down river to the sailing club. Steve Couch and Jeff Walsh will have both safety boats on duty.

By Jeff WALSH