DATE: 4/6/2025

WIND: WSE/SW-8-22 KNOTS

TIDE: H@16:59-1.85M

COURSE: 17B

NUMBER OF BOATS: 32

Oh those westerly’s. They can be quite challenging and always problematic. The forecast for the afternoon was for a consistent 15-20 knots coming out of the sou ‘west. All looked like going to plan until a large cloud loomed over Manly and went out over the bay towards the north east and seemed to flatten off the breeze and the sea. A few latter starters, after watching the rest of the fleet disappear down the course in the 15- 20 knots predicted, got the raw end of the pineapple and started in the given 8-10 knots. However that’s sailing!

A visit to the Sand hills Rec. Mark (SHRM) was well overdue and the conditions seemed to suggest it would be a good place to visit. It gave a long running reaching leg from the start boat past the Green Island Western Cardinal, past the St. Helena Southern Cardinal, kept the St. Helena floating red to starboard and took SHRM, also to starboard. It was here where the breeze did the weird things spoken about earlier. Knocks and lifts gusts and lows. Westerly’s!!!???Then the work leg started back all the way back to the eventual finish line at the Green Island Western Cardinal. It provided skippers and crew a few headaches and challenges, but all handled the situation well and enjoyed another great Wednesday arvo sail. Awesome!

Closest to the line: 00:02-IGNITION-ANTON

Lucky door prize: FRENCH KISS-MIKE/SARAH

Lucky Crew prize: BLUE BOTTLE-DUGALD

PB