WIND: ESE-ENE-10-22 KNOTS

TIDE: H@13:37

COURSE:

ECHO

NUMBER OF BOATS: 36

Oh our fickle westerly’s.

The excitement of a windward finish was on the lips of many skippers as they gathered around the registration table. The only question was the unknown character of the wind and how it could vary in strength, as westerly’s do.

As the fleet assembled at the start line, the wind was a very kind 10 knots and remained like that for the entire duration of the start sequence. They went up past the Green Island western cardinal on a lovely broad reach, between Green and St. Helena on a run and all the way to the St Helena floating red on another reach—very kind! A starboard turn at the mark and what should have been a quick running reach to Hope Banks turned into a slow oh hum. There was only 3-5 knots of breeze!!The start boat was sitting just outside the harbours entrance still in 12 knots watching the very slow progression of the fleet. Time to shorten course! Pick up the pin, move out to Lockyer Light and check out the current conditions. It’s a tuff life but someone has to do it. Then, the westerly kicked in and finally made it out to Hope Banks and continued to blow at times to 22 knots. So the windward finish became a reality. Another starboard turn at Hope Banks and a beat all the way past Lockyer Light to the finish, you guessed it, back were we started, just outside the harbours entrance. Again, as I have stated in the past, the fleet tacking back and forth all over the bay is spectacular to watch. Well done to all.

Coming Up: Ekka Wednesday

Results

Closest to the line: 00:00-KERAZY-SHANE

Lucky door prize: THE CLUB FAREAST-DAVID

Lucky Crew prize: LADY’D’-DI

PB