The fleet started with a pleasant northeaster of six to 10 knots, sunshine, a rising tide, and flat water.  

Steve Phelps led the fleet away, followed by Bill Jauncey, Cameron Phelps, Michael Fairbairn, Wayne Norris and Joe Mason in that order.  

As the breeze freshened, Michael opened a lead in his Finn class dinghy from a really close battle among the Spiral class dinghies of Wayne, Steve, Bill and Cameron, who were swapping places all the way up the first leg and again during the second lap.  

Meanwhile, Joe, sailing his first season, was improving his relative position to the fleet.

By the end of the second lap Michael had extended his lead from Wayne who had finally opened a useful margin on Bill, with Cameron following him about a couple of lengths ahead of his father Steve, who was leading Joe.  

Unfortunately Cameron capsized soon after and Steve managed to pass him, although the battle continued.  

The order remained that way for the rest of the race.  

Despite Bill’s best efforts, this time Wayne finished with a good margin over him, but not close enough to Michael as results subsequently proved.  

Steve came in fourth, just ahead of Cameron, and Joe finished all the laps.

In the Manildra Championship Michael showed excellent sailing skills to win on corrected time by one minute and seven seconds from Wayne, with Bill another one minute 40 seconds after Wayne.  

Steve was less than three minutes behind Bill, Cameron, after another capsize late in the race was about a minute after Steve, and Joe less than five minutes after Cameron.

The Bomaderry Bowling Club Point Score results, after correction of personal handicaps, saw Michael win again to give him the Kel Campbell Trophy of the Day.  The Spiral fleet saw an almost complete reversal of the championship results with Cameron coming second on corrected time, 47 seconds after Michael, rapidly improving Joe 17 seconds behind him, Steve less than two minutes after Joe, Wayne three seconds behind Steve, and Bill seven seconds after Wayne.  

This meant that three sailors can still win the point score, with Bill currently leading on 896 points form Wayne on 855 and Michael on 830.  

Cameron is not far behind with 615.  

There are 100 points on offer for a win so it will go right to the wire.

This weekend the club will not be sailing as Michael and Bill, together with Merve Lotze from Callala Bay will take on the best of the Spiral fleet in the Spiral State Titles being run by Avalon Sailing Club on Pittwater.  

The next race will be a catch up on March 22.

Visitors are welcome.