Saturday was a day of mid twenties temperature and a steady 10 kn breeze. It was a great day for learners who were out in force.

It was also a pretty good day for sailors and we had up to sixteen boats on the water. In Division 3 we had both Harry and Robbie in race 2 after Robbie had done race 1. Division 2 featured Sabres sailed by Ollie, Lucy and your scribe in race 1 who were joined by Tony in race 2. Division 1 was packed with Mike W’s OK, an Aero 6 (Paul S), an Aero 7 (Tim Waller who it was great to see when the big boat at Geelong may have snapped a mast) and Lasers of various denominations sailed by Manfred, Peter C, Callum S, Nate, visitor David May, John W, and Peter Ellenby. (Peter C, Callum and Nate were in Radials, the rest were full rigs in the day).

Division 3 race 1 had Bobby as the sole competitor, but he was joined by Harry in race 2. Harry won, but the margin was 39 seconds which may have been the closest Bobby has been to Harry. There is now a bit of competition in Division 3. In Division 2 race 1 Ollie was ahead of Lucy, but only by 6 seconds. Your scribe was a minute and a quarter back. In race two, Tony led for the race finishing a mere 3 seconds up on Lucy who was 21 seconds ahead of Ollie. Your scribe had improved and was only 18 seconds behind.

In Division 1 the fleet was competitive. Race 1 had Mike ahead of Tim W by less than a minute with John W a mere 15 seconds back. John was trailed by Callum but only by 7 seconds with visitor David May 22 seconds back. Manfred trailed by a further 14 seconds with Paul a further 12 seconds in arrears. Nate came in 22 seconds later 7 seconds ahead of Peter E who led Peter C by 18 seconds (Peter C had started about two minutes behind). All up, all sailors finished within 2 and three quarter minutes. Race 2
had Manfred twenty seconds up on Mike with Peter C (Radial) 49 seconds back but only ahead of David May by 4 seconds. John W was another 4 seconds behind but 4 seconds ahead of Tim who was ahead of Callum by 6 seconds. Nate trailed by 28 seconds with Paul S a minute back. The middle five sailors finished within 18 seconds of each other.

Thanks to Peter Viney and Glen on Ozone Dennis Jones who ran the race. Molly followed Division 3 and acted as a crash boat. Julie was, yet again, in the canteen looking after learn to sailors and liaising with parents. Peter and Glen doubled up and took finishing times from Ozone.

Coming up:

Saturday 8 March 2025.
1400 Bengalut Balug series commences.

Saturday 15 March 2025.
1400 Bengalut Balug series continues (includes Commodore Cup)
Learn2Sail is on with basic learners and more advanced running from 0900 to 1200.
We are running simultaneously to allow for a progression from group to group.

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; so:
Learning 41 Don’t barge in on the starting line from windward with Tony C there. He will call you out (Windward boat keeps clear) and will luff up so you may run into him (No proper course prior to start). It may be questionable as to whether this is a slow luff, giving the ‘barger’ room to keep clear, (RRS 16.1 When a right of way boat changes course she shall give the other boat room to keep clear) but I won’t be breaking my boat, charging in from windward.
Learning 42 Remember
‘Learning 17 As the breeze decreases the effect of the tide increases. A formula might be:
To be developed.’
Still in development and allowing for outgoing tide this week did not overcome the advantage of a lift inshore.
Learning 43 A muesli bar found on the bottom of the boat 4 weeks after you put it there, remains edible.