On a lovely day with low twenties temperatures and a steadyish 10 kn breeze we prepared for the grand opening of the newly refurbished balcony. The learners were out with about 5 Optis and the RS (the big one). The Salties were there in their numbers to swim to the pole and your scribe was ready to BBQ, not the initial request for steak, but at least 196 tiny snags in honour of the Tiny Towns grant which enabled the work. And we had salads by Jason McIntosh.

There were however a couple of problems; Commodore John Walter had had a better offer, Alison Marchant could not come to do the official opening and the weather on Thursday, when we were meant to install the glass panels was simply atrocious and the panels were not installed. But it all went ahead anyway with the Learners sailing, the Salties swimming and sailors sailing with St Leonards’ sailors in the annual Interclub Challenge.

And the balcony was used to watch and report as, despite a lack of safety barriers, Andrew D (foot sore and balance suffering) and David K (good to see him back albeit with head sore and balance suffering) sat outside and reported to the tower who spent a lot of time suggesting that they not move and she would come and speak to them.

It was a great day. Considerable thanks are due to Peter E and his organisational capabilities.

Division 1 sailors from our club were Peter C (Laser Radial) and Tim Waller (Aero 7). They were joined by Danny Rayson (Tasar), Brian Case (Aero 7) D. Popp (OK), G. Mer (Laser Radial) from St Leonards and a Fireball, sailed by the Bucek Family (?). Division 2 had nine sailors, Sabres sailed by Ollie, Tony, Billy, Lucy, Steve, Geoff and Laurence on the Club Sabre. They were joined by Brad Hutson and Jason McIntosh from St Leonards on Herons. Division 3 had Optis sailed by Sophie and Harry who were joined by Chloe Allen on a Bic skiff.

In Division 3, Harry led Chloe by a minute in race 1 with Sophie some minutes behind in what is one of her first races. In race 2 Chloe came back and headed Harry by a mere second, Sophie was only a couple of minutes behind.

Division 2 saw some close racing featuring all but your scribe who despite some efficient starts could not maintain the pace. Race 1 saw Ollie and Lucy tie in first position (possibly a first for a while), Tony was a minute back followed by Geoff 17 seconds behind and your scribe a further minute back. Billy was half a minute behind with the Herons two minutes back. Brad beat Jason in by a mere 2 seconds. Laurence in Frank Whyte’s old Sabre was a minute or so back. In race 2 Billy got off to a flier and looked to trounce all until he was gradually hauled back. Geoff got ahead and finished about a minute ahead of Ollie who was 18 seconds ahead of Lucy. Billy was a minute behind 4 seconds ahead of Tony who was a minute up on your scribe. Jason’s Heron was a minute and a half back followed by Laurence.

In Division 1 race 1 the Aero’s reigned with Brian Case 44 seconds ahead of Tim Waller. Peter C was a minute and a bit back followed by Danny Rayson and crew on the Tasar a further minute or so back. G. Mer’s Laser was 37 seconds back ahead of the Fireball (which may have started late) and the OK. In race 2 the Fireball showed its paces finishing 4 minutes ahead of Brian Case’s Aero with Tim’s Aero a further half a minute back. Peter C trailed by a further half minute with the Tasar two minutes behind. G. Mer’s Laser was 27 seconds back and ahead of the improving OK by 18 seconds.

Thanks are due to all who ran the races and especially to St Leonards who brought their race boat to assist with crew Steve N and two others. Peter E was RO on Ozone with the assistance of Ian R and ? Dennis Jones was crewed by Peter V and Ollie’s dad Steve. Dave Wane had Mollie and Angelique following our less experienced sailors.

And congratulations are due to Mike Williams who wasn’t teaching beginners but took the weekend off to finish 3rd in the State OK championship.

Coming up:

Saturday 29 March 2025.
1400 Bengalut Balug series continues
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 5 April 2025.
1400 Bengalut Balug series continues (and counts to Boat Club Cup)

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:
Your scribe seemed to be starting well and, in the first race, was up with the leaders until they began to draw away. He immediately went to Learning 44 and checked for seaweed. There was none. The second race was similar and the further it went the further back was the scribe. It was not until I was heading to the beach and pulled the board up that I discovered the problem. And let me say that after starting sailing in the late sixties in a 12m Sharpie (see 56 Olympics) progressing to the 505 with the stainless steel mast (yes there once was such a thing), taking a long break before taking up the Laser at IH and then moving to the Sabre; this is a first never, by me, done before.
Learning 45 DON’T PUT THE CENTREBOARD IN BACKWARDS
The centreboard now has little pointy marks on it