It was grey and threatening but your scribe rigged his boat with a degree of trepidation in winds gusting to 20+ kn. He launched with some flair onto the anchor off the beach and then boarded ready to sail. At this point things may have begun to go pear shaped. Once on board, your scribe realised that he had forgotten to disengage from the anchor, this was rectified by crawling too the bow and letting go; but in accomplishing this manoeuvre, the boat had redirected itself and was now heading straight at the beach and moving quicker. A rational response would have been to hop off and regain control with the boat heading in the right direction. A less rational response, as chosen by your scribe, was to stay on board and conduct a screaming gybe in six inches of water and missing the ramp by a foot. Your scribe may have lost some of his equanimity by then and after starting carried out a number of tacks catching his head in the mainsheet and finally breaking his last pair of Aldi sunglasses and retiring to the beach.

Others were more in tune with the conditions. Division 1 consisted of frequent visitor Ron Fergusson, Dave K and Manfred. Division 2 had your scribe and Andrew D, who won both races after the scribe retired. In Division 1 race 1 Ron was half a minute ahead of Manfred (Dave K had retired after a capsize). In race 2Ron again headed Manfred but only by 19 seconds.

For the second week in a row, boats experienced the difficulties of the breeze shifting rapidly.

Thanks to the race officers John Walter and Glen Terry. John especially as he sailed Dave K’s boat in after Dave couldn’t get back in and was carted in by the rescue boat. John may have forgotten he was carrying his mobile in a pocket but it survived. Peter Viney was on Dennis Jones, Julie ran the canteen and Alex did the tower with Anne.

Coming up:

Saturday 4 January 2025.
1400 Lady Nelson series continues (and incorporates Red Cross Trophy and Boat Club Cup)

Saturday 11 January 2025.
1400 Matthew Flinders series commences

And in a new and occasional bit:
Your Scribe has decided that he often gets things wrong and he would be wise to write down any hints and learnings soon after a race for review, this is a progression to a ‘professional attitude’ to sailing; and he is prepared to share them with you as a learning experience:
Learning 27 If you forget something, fix it “right” rather than improvise. Time wasted may be well spent.