WIND:  0-20-22 kn / E – SSE

TIDE: H @ 13:59

COURSE: BRAVO Reverse

NUMBER OF BOATS: 28

It may have been the impending squalls or the threat of wind gusts of 25 knots or the dirty water that kept people away, but the boats that turned up, whilst low in numbers were high in quality. It was also race 3/7 of the Geoff Anderson Memorial Super Series.

Course BR is approximately 12/13 nm and in many varying conditions made for a very challenging afternoon. The early starters (and the majority of the fleet, for that matter) had fairly consistent conditions (10-15kn / SE) howeve as 13:35 rolled around the breeze went to 0 and the last of the fleet struggled to get to the start line. The frustrating thing was just east of the first mark (Lockyer Light) the breeze was good and the rest of the fleet were heeled over and moving well on their way to the new Hope Banks RM. There was talk after in the bar of this leg nearly being a beat in the changing conditions. A port rounding at the mark and it was a run/reach up to the St Helena floating red. It was a bit of a drag race with the larger boats taking their full advantage.

Another port rounding and it was down to the new RM at Green Island (GERM as it is getting to be known). At this stage the breeze was around 140 degrees so there was need for 1 dig before GERM before turning back to Lockyer and home to the finish. In the end it was a great sail and a great way to start 2024. Well done to all!!

Coming up:

Australia Day celebrations – more WAGS!

Report by Paul Bolton, Volunteer WAGS Co-ordinator

Results

Closest to the line: 00:01-SASSAFRAS-SALLY/JAMES

Lucky door prize: IGNITION-JOHN/ELIZABETH

Lucky Crew prize: LADY’D’-ROB