The 7th and 8th heats of the TVSC club championship were sailed in a 10 knot SSE breeze, clear water and under a threatening sky. A very handsome start boat with a young, competent crew set the fleet on their way on time at 1300hrs.
Visiting Brisbane sailors Robert Preston and Parker Stephenson in the NS14 Pura Vida were keen to put their stamp on the first race and after a good start at the committee boat end tacked on to port and were never in danger of losing a good lead that they had established by the first top mark.
Also sailing well was Lex Branch in the ever-popular Laser class and long time TVSC sailor Mark Reynolds in his corsair Keenas with a crew that spanned at least a couple of generations.
Two-time club champion Monique Smith also sailed an excellent clean race while Debbie Jones has come into her own in her Laser after removing a few family members from her crew list.
For the start of the second race, the Committee had the start mark moved to allow for the breeze, which had swung a little to the left. For those who had noticed the tide had turned and was on its way out, it was clear that getting onto port tack as soon as possible after the start was the key to a good first beat to windward.
Both the Brisbane boats Pura Vida and Hydrotherapy (Leon Waldron and Curtis Kosmala) did just that and were left to fight for the race win.
The ever-present Kate Yeomans with her crew Gail Bernet in a Pacer started and sailed very well and were able to keep some of the quicker boats behind them.
As the breeze died, so did some of the enthusiasm and combined, this made it difficult for a few of the slower boats to finish the second race.
Robert Preston, after a big win, was reminded that it’s not over until the boat is on the beach and found himself walking back into the harbour over the rocks with an NS 14 and crew behind him.
Dave Robinson attempted to turn his Impulse dinghy, Matchbox, into match sticks after putting his foot through its side and was last seen heading towards the harbour in a sinking vessel.
More photos are on our Facebook Page and the results from the day are here.
See you in two weeks!
Matt Vandeleur