Grey skies dotted the horizon, a series of stop and start showers and virtually no wind combined for a set of conditions that were less than ideal.

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This did not stop the participants however as at least seven boats and crews joined the SIBYC from out of town for the 2022 Basin Classic, along with four home boats, which gave 11 starters for the 11am start.

The groups principal race officer Phil "The Wind Whisperer" had jumped off his usual start boat for the luxury of Kingston Lady and had joined Shawn for the off breeze start in a light south-east wind.

Spinnakers were raised on the start line, and everybody kept a civilized distance, so all could get away without incident.

It would be a one tack run all the way up into Erowal Bay and by the top, the fleet was still fairly close together. Now out of earshot of the Wind Whisperer, the light breeze evaporated to a fickle zephyr, with some boats drifting along, but still moving, and others virtually stopped.

The lead boats seemed to take what wind there was with them, leaving those at the back in search of any kind of movement. Hoping for something closer to the shoreline, Backchat found a new sand bar that they were not previously aware of and had to lift the keel to continue their journey.

More rain appeared out to the west, and it would be the Sports boat Elvish, having a battle with a couple of Ross 780's, Rossterred Off and Obsession, and just behind them was local boat Southern Ross.

The Castle 650 "Serenity" skippered by the always smiling Macca would stay mid-fleet with another two locals, Backchat and Time Out dueling around the course, in the light and vary variable wind.

Meanwhile, at the back of the fleet, the smaller boats were still having a difficult time trying to get around McLeans Point, and it was the race officer's decision to offer the back markers a shortened course, by going straight back to the Sussex finish line after rounding Ernie's mark.

Thus, Division 2 was created mid race. This was done to allow as many boats as possible to record a finish (and also to allow the committee boat and crew, to return to shore base before all supplies had run dry).

Ruby was now leading the Division 2 boats with Bluey and HooRoo fighting over the wooden spoon.

A few hundred meters into the leg back towards Sussex, HooRoo decided their time could be better spent retrieving course buoys, so they peeled away, swapped white sails for the iron headsail and motored the rest of the course, following the fleet to pick up the marks.

With rain on the way again, the last boat to cross the line would be Serenity, with Backchat and Timeout deciding enough was enough and also starting up the noisemakers.

It was all back to the RSL Fisho's shed for some welcome food thanks to Backchat, and Rhonda, as well as some liquid refreshment and the results/prize giving.

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