A beautiful day with 25 degrees and a steady, well after the first aborted start, breeze.

And because your scribe had an incredibly horrible first race here is the learning for the day:
Learning 44 If Tony sails away from you on the first beat, and you can usually keep up with him, something might be wrong. When the leaders finish seven minutes ahead, something is definitely wrong. In the absence of setting the boat up different to normal, check externals, and don’t wait till the start of the second race to check weed on the foils. (Then be surprised again at the difference seaweed on the rudder makes).

In Division 1 the full rigs of Peter E, John W, visitor David May and, in a welcome return after knee surgery, Richard F on his OK had some good racing. The tower reports that in race 1 John got an unbeatable start and was not headed, ending a minute ahead of Peter. David was ¾ minute back with Richard 2 minutes later. David led race 2 by half a minute from John with Peter 20 seconds back. Richard was again a couple of minutes back.

In Division 2 we welcomed back Geoff Dixon after what seems to have been a long break. He was joined by James Dixon in his first outing of the season on the Sabre ‘Abigail’ which James has renamed ‘Death Trap’ after his father modified the boat with the addition of a mast which occasionally rotates in the correct direction and a Sabre Shark sail. (Handicapper’s admission: the bigger sail compensates the aged, heavy and outdated ‘Abigail’ hull (no 96) so the boat has been rated as a normal Sabre). Other sailors in Division 2 were Ollie, Tony and your scribe. In race 1 Ollie was 30 seconds up on Geoff with Tony two minutes back. James was three minutes back and your scribe finished. Race 2 was more competitive with weed cleared from two boats and running repairs made to both the Dixon craft. James (and I may rethink his handicap if he does it again) was 27 seconds ahead of Ollie who headed Geoff 2 minutes 20 seconds. Your scribe held off Tony for about two legs and finished a minute behind Geoff and 13 seconds up on Tony.

Special thanks to Andrew Grant who was the RO. He had to contend with wind shifts at the first start and used the AP flag as the course was reset. Sailing takes his whole Saturday as he commutes from Ballarat. He was assisted by Peter V on Ozone and Glen Terry on Dennis Jones. Julie did her stuff and Alex took times in the tower and watched over the course. She is now away for a few weeks on holiday.

Coming up:

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.

Saturday 22 March 2025.
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 Informal opening of Tiny Towns Development work which has enabled the Club to refurbish (work nearly there) the front of the Club to look better for members and beachgoers.
Provisional Program:
0900 Learn2Sail
1100 Salty B!tches swim to pole
1200 Opening Tiny Towns works
1400 Interclub Regatta at IHYC with Port and St Leonards. Two races.

Support and appreciation of the grant will be great.

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:
See above

And, in a first, it was exhilarating to watch sailors enjoying a post race drink leap to assist a boat club member, bogged on the ramp, initially with a deep and vital discussion as to the going rate of getting out the tractor and towing the fast sinking ute out of the sand. This was followed by further investigation and consideration of the whereabouts of the Club’s snatch strap which may have been last seen in the back of the now defunct Suzuki. Fortunately it was found and a charge free rescue was completed. (Scribe’s thought was that it looked like a launch that was always going to be doubtful given size of ute, boat and state of the tide).