Last Saturday Nowra Community Sailing Club began its South Coast Festival of Sails with the round Pig Island race which incorporated heat six of the Kel Campbell Point Score.
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In an easterly breeze of around six knots Bill Jauncey won the start from Michael Fairbairn, Cameron Phelps, Steve Phelps, Wayne Norris, and Bronwyn and Dave on the Manly Graduate.
However it was position on the line that counted and Bill was at the wrong end and as the fleet crossed each other on the upwind work Bill found himself at the back of the fleet while Wayne set of in close pursuit of Michael's faster Finn.
As the fleet headed east along the northern side of the island Wayne continued to clear out from the other Spirals while Michael tried to extend his lead on the Spiral by a big enough margin to win on yardstick and handicap.
Meanwhile Bill had caught 'Team Phelps' and the three Spirals then had a great tussle with places swapping frequently.
By the turn at the east end of the island Wayne had consolidated his lead over the other three Spirals while Michael realised he was unlikely to get enough margin on Wayne.
Bill had opened a small gap on Cameron and Steve while Bronwyn and Dave, having found bottom a few times, set their spinnaker to attempt to close on the others.
The Finn was first to finish but only five minutes ahead of Wayne - clearly not enough. Bill was almost four minutes behind Wayne, closely followed by Cameron and Steve.
All the single handed boats had finished and were ashore as the Manly Graduate crossed the line making a grand sight under spinnaker and getting a rousing cheer from all the spectators.
On yardstick times for the Round Pig Island race Wayne took the win from Michael by nearly a minute with Bill nearly a minute further back in third with Cameron and Steve close behind him.
Bronwyn and Dave, doubtless rueing their groundings, were behind the Spirals.
Heat six of the Kel Campbell Point score which is based on personal handicap, was also won by Wayne by forty four seconds from Cameron.
Bronwyn and Dave were only 20 seconds back from Cameron in third with nearly a minute and a half to Michael then Steve five seconds later with Bill another fourteen seconds back in last place.
The club will not race this Saturday as most members have family, Scout and other commitments, so racing will resume on the 21st with heat seven of the Kel Campbell Point Score, and heat five of the Bomaderry Bowling Club Championship. As always, visitors are most welcome.