This iconic race is now the final heat of the GOF interclub challenge between Jervis Bay Sailing Club, NCSC, and the Illawarra Yacht Club, all three clubs being popular with Nowra identity Ray Fairbairn who did so much for sailing in his lifetime. Additionally it is heat five of the NSW Spiral Association Traveller's Trophy.

Boats from the three local clubs were joined by Spirals from Sydney clubs and the Southern Highlands region, and the fleet made a grand sight as they set off for the Heads in a rising north-easterly breeze.

As we worked past Bomaderry Creek and Pig Island the breeze increased to 12 to 15 knots and included frequent bullets and shifts in direction, leading to a number of capsizes. Michael Fairbairn's Finn and Boudy de Haas from IYC, sailing a Laser, began to get ahead of the rest of the fleet as everyone found the hard working (into the wind,) conditions made the leg "marathon" by name and marathon by nature.

Michael was first to the Heads, followed by Boudy, Grae Baker the leading Spiral sailor from Concord Ryde S.C. and Wayne Norris from Nowra with the rest of the fleet finishing over the next 15 minutes. Our starting crew did a wonderful job of finishing and timing the fleet in difficult conditions then providing a great lunch during which everyone caught up with friends and steeled themselves for the run home which promised to be exciting in the still rising wind.

With limited space for manoeuvring behind the start line the restart was tight and exciting, except for Bill Jauncey who capsized his Spiral as the start horn sounded. On the trip home many others capsized in sympathy! The run back to Nowra was exhilarating with most of the boats very close together and planing in the wind at near maximum speed. It doesn't get much better than that! Sydney Spiral sailor Christine Carew summed it up for all of us at the end with "Wow! That was amazing!"

Michael again was first to finish this leg from the Hobie 16 of Bronwyn and David Turner and Boudy with the rest of the fleet finishing over the next 30 minutes except Concord Ryde's Renee Rawson who, despite a number of capsizes, did not give up and made it to the finish despite being the lightest in the fleet and still carrying a full sized Spiral sail.

While results were calculated our wonderful starting crew put on a great afternoon tea giving everyone an excuse to have some more friendly socialising. On corrected time Michael finished first by just 34 seconds from Boudy who was rueing his two swims on the way home. Grea was next from Wayne Norris (NCSC), Henry Zulmans (BYRA) and Merve Lotze (JBSC). The first four finished within three minutes and five clubs were represented in the first six!

Michael also won the GOF Trophy sailing his dad's old Finn, on four points, from Boudy (eight points), Merve (10 points), and Bill with 20 points. Grae won the Spiral T.T. Heat five from Wayne, Henry and Merve. But for everyone the results were just part of the day, the best part being the sailing and the socialising of sailors from so many clubs and locations. As the PM would say, how good is that!

NCSC will not be sailing this Saturday, December 14. On December 21 the club will sail heat eight of the Kel Campbell Point Score and heat six of the Bomaderry Bowling Club Championship, starting at 14.20.