DATE:  23/4/2025

WIND:  NE-E-SE-SSE-Under 10 knots

TIDE: L@12:23-0.67M

COURSE: 22Bravo

NUMBER OF BOATS: 40

The forecast from BOM and all of the models I use showed a very light wind afternoon. To that point they were correct. The major point of conjecture was the direction, as all showed it coming out of the south. The ominous dark clouds that were hanging above more than likely had something to do with the breeze flicking all over the place and at one stage, the north east. It gave skippers and crew plenty to think about! But at the end of the day it was another fantastic arvo.

The sometimes confusing to some, course 22B was chosen to not only keep the fleet close to the harbour, but to limit the flooding tide influence (L@12:23) as the fleet made their way north on a running reach to the first mark, being the Green Island western cardinal. From there it was east to the Green Island northern red. Believe it or not that part of the course (approx. 2nm) took the majority of the fleet around an hour and a half. From that red it turned into a beat all the way to the Green Island Rec mark before a port rounding and it was back the way they came. The finish boat made its way north with the very strong possibility of shortening the course and it was great to watch the entire fleet fighting for some part of the bay for clear water after rounding GERM. Well done!! The finish line was set back at the Green Island western cardinal and it provided very close results right through the fleet with seconds separating many boats. Awesome day!!

Image courtesy of  Stephen O’Brien

Coming Up: Next Week –the last race of the Geoff Anderson Memorial Super Series 2025

Closest to the line: 00:00-TRUE BLUE-MARTY
Lucky door prize: OUTSIDER-JOHN

Lucky Crew prize: BLUEBOTTLE-DUGALD

PB