After gale force winds late last week, Saturday dawned much quieter and by the start of Nowra Community Sailing Club’s heats five of the Bomaderry Bowling Club Point Score and Championship, the breeze was down to three to six knots.
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A strong outgoing tide tested the skills of the skippers but everyone managed to stay on the correct side of the starting line.
This is an imaginary line between two points which boats cannot cross before the starting gun which is sounded after a three-minute countdown with flags raised or lowered each minute.
Bill Jauncey made the best start, crossing the line immediately after the starting signal, and Steve Phelps, Wayne Norris, and Michael Fairbairn were within a few seconds of Bill.
Alan Hawkes followed the leading group and Cameron Hertzborg, sailing his first race, was just behind Alan.
Michael took a while to clear the three leading Spiral class dinghies, but by the end of the first lap his Finn had consolidated its lead.
The Spirals, which had swapped places multiple times, rounded the bottom mark (the mark most downwind) virtually together – great racing!
Alan and Cameron followed with Cameron finding the smaller sail option on his Spiral to be the wrong choice in the light conditions.
Over the rest of the race Wayne managed to establish a lead of nearly a minute on Steve and Bill with Alan and Cameron giving them some space.
Steve and Bill continued to repeatedly swap places and began their final run to the finish almost side by side with Steve about a metre ahead of Bill, both hugging the southern shore to minimise the adverse tide.
With a few metres to go Steve’s centreboard touched bottom giving Bill third over the line from Steve by 10 seconds.
Cameron was next to finish but as he was a couple of laps down, his time was adjusted accordingly, so Alan’s Laser was next on the score sheets.
As usual the Bomaderry Bowling Club Championship is based on boat class yardsticks and was won by Michael by 37 seconds from Wayne with Bill 46 seconds back for third and Steve just behind him.
Alan came next and Cameron completed his first race behind Alan.
The Point Score, based on individual handicaps was also won by Michael by just one second from Steve with Bill nearly a minute back in third, beating Wayne by only three seconds!
Alan was a few minutes back from the Spirals and Cameron finished behind him and vowed to use the full sized sail in the next light wind race. Cameron had improved considerably in just a few outings.
This Saturday we compete for heats six of the Bomaderry Bowling Club Championship and Point Score with the start as usual at 14.15.
Visitors are welcome to sail on our scenic river. Almost anyone of any age can learn how to sail in a day or two, however once learnt the sport of sailing takes a lifetime to master.
