WIND: ?? / 0-5 knots

TIDE: L @ 13:35

COURSE: JULIETTE

NUMBER OF BOATS: 38

Oh wind, oh wind, wherefore art thou?

The skies were a beautiful Brissy blue. The temperature was a little crisp (out of the sun), but there was nowhere else you would rather be than bobbing around Moreton Bay on this amazing winter’s afternoon. Even though it took two-and-a-half hours to complete the huge 1.3 nm course everyone was enthralled with the challenge. The intended course was shortened by more than half its distance with 30 out of the 38 starters completing the race. And what a race it was! With 100m to go there were a possible 10-15 boats that could win. It was fantastic to watch from the finish boat as little zephyrs of breeze from all directions and the start of a flood tide created havoc and provided skippers and crew challenges you don’t get to much practise to do.

The start was very calm and slow with no more than 2-3 knots of WSW breeze. Probably not the day to be OCS! With all the fleet gone and on their way to the first mark (Green Island western cardinal) the breeze flicked to the NE and faded. The saving grace was we were at the bottom of the tide and what was left of it drew the fleet along the correct course. I’m sure there are some skippers a little better educated about the strength of the tide around marks of the bay. The finish line was set at the Green Island northern red amongst dolphins, turtles and sea birds (just for some extra entertainment) and, as described above, very good to watch and even better to participate in, I’m sure. It was an afternoon of very trying conditions and those who finished did amazingly well. The old story of ‘cream rising to the top’ proved very true.

Coming up: Ekka Wednesday

Results

Closest to the line: 00:00-KERUMBA-TAM

Lucky door prize: TRIBUTE-RICHARD

Lucky Crew prize: BEN-IAN/FI/ANDREW

PB