After sailing was cancelled on the previous two Saturdays due to strong winds, it was wonderful to start the season last Saturday with eight Spiral dinghies and one Finn dinghy facing the starter.
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The north-east breeze was light at the start and combined with the high and still rising tide, gave us flat water and excellent sailing conditions.
Michael Fairbairn won the start from Merve Lotze, Cameron Phelps, Wayne Norris, Bill Jauncey, Steve Phelps, Mike Wotten, Richard Pryor and John Barbour having his first sail in a Spiral, starting a little after the pack.
With the breeze increasing Michael soon had the faster Finn ahead of the pack of Spirals, and he finished the first lap ahead of Wayne who was being attacked by Merve, Mike, Steve and Richard.
The increasing wind led to the retirements of Cameron, John and Bill.
Over the next few laps Wayne drew ahead of Merve who came under sustained attack from Mike with Steve back a little and Richard retiring after taking on the bridge with his mast.
Not surprisingly the bridge won that one!
On the last lap Mike managed to just get ahead of Merve and by the finish Michael in his Finn was well ahead of Wayne, followed by Mike with Steve doing fewer laps but having his time adjusted.
The Championship is based on boat yardsticks, and was comfortably won by Michael Fairbairn from Mike Wotton, Wayne Norris, Merve Lotze and Steve Phelps.
The point score, based on individual handicaps, was again won by Michael from Mike, Wayne, Merve and Steve.
However Michael's relative handicap has come down one from Mike's and two from the other finishers.
This Saturday we sail for point score two starting around 2.15. Visitors are welcome.
Last Sunday some of our fleet travelled to the Illawarra Yacht Club for the second heat of the G.O.F. interclub challenge sailed by people from Jervis Bay Sailing Club, Nowra Community Sailing Club, and the Illawarra Yacht Club in memory of our late and greatly missed Commodore Ray Fairbairn who sailed with all three clubs.
Last Sunday some of our fleet travelled to the Illawarra Yacht Club for the second heat of the G.O.F. interclub challenge
IYC sailors took the first two places on their home course from Michael third, Merve fifth, Wayne sixth, Bill tenth and Richard eleventh.
Once again everyone had an excellent social catch-up after both races.
The third heat of the challenge is the Nowra Marathon on December 8.
