The first three were cancelled due to a combination of COVID and bad weather so it's perhaps not surprising that there was a great turnout this weekend for this handicap start Basin Chase.

The forecast was also good, partly cloudy and warm with an 8 to 10 knot southerly, very pleasant, which made a change!

First boat to start was HooRoo (Andy, Lou and Joel) with Two Up (Paul and Lynne) a few minutes later and Son of Coco (Paul, Lynne and Jannette) just after them.

There was then a five-minute break before Time Out (Scott, Mel and Kenny) got to start, with Salty Tiger (Greg and Darren) four minutes after them. Last two to start were Fly Navy Too (Greg and Ronda) and finally Southern Cross (Greg and Lynne).

The first leg was a true work but after that it was cracked sheets for the next two legs, with the exception of Fly Navy Too who did put the kite up down to the Sussex mark though it's debatable whether it did them any favours.

The fleet was slowly bunching up by this point and the downwind leg to Talyan Point saw Son of Coco, Time Out and Fly Navy Too close the gap on Two Up and HooRoo, but it was Southern Cross that made the most of the difficult wind to carve their way through the fleet and take the lead at the end of the leg.

The next work saw positions change a few times with tacking tactics coming into play and final leg turned out to be too shy for a kite (though Fly Navy Too were seriously considering it) so it was a sprint to the finish.

Southern Cross never lost the lead having taken it and were first over the line.

Fly Navy Too were able to hold off HooRoo for second and for the second week in a row Time Out just couldn't quite get past HooRoo and had to settle for fourth. Two Up weren't far behind in fifth with Son of Coco in sixth and Salty Tiger bringing up the rear.

As always, a huge thanks to our trusty Committee Boat, Sparrowfest, ably manned by Phil and Greg, at least it was lovely day for them to be sitting out on the Basin.

Results: 1st Southern Cross; 2nd Fly Navy Too; 3rd HooRoo; 4th Time Out; 5th Twp Up; 6th Son of Coco; 7th Salty Tiger.

Next week's race is a Outside Course scratch start and the first weekend in February is our Regatta which will run over 3 days from 4th - 6th Feb. For more details please visit our website, www.sibyc.com.au or email us on sailing@sibyc.com.au.

Andy and Lou