It looked like it would be another slow day but between 2 and 4 the breeze increased from 10 to 17 knots at the South channel giving sailors a variety of breeze to play around in.

Sailors in Div1 were Mike W (OK), Lucy and Dave (Fireball), Peter E (Laser full), Rod Smith (Laser full)Peter C (the old one in Laser R), Dave K (Laser R) and in race 2 Jamie B (back from back injury) (OK Dinghy). Div 2 had Sabres sailed by Geoff D, James D, your scribe, Tony C and a 4.7 sailed by Harry C. Div 3 had Opti’s sailed by Bobby and Henry who did the one race.

In race 1 your scribe pulled off a pretty good start as he hit the line at the pin end on level terms with the fast moving Fireball. Unfortunately those starting at the boat end apparently failed to appreciate the effect of an outgoing tide and caused a general recall. Your scribe’s second start was not nearly so good and he found himself getting some dirty wind from the 30 metre ahead OK Dinghy. A polite request to Mike W that he might like to tack for the shore, and get away from the scribe, was declined. In Div 1 race 1 Mike led and was two minutes up on Lucy and Dave (sailing the officially recognised World’s heaviest Fireball) who appeared to be sailing better lines this week and did get the kite up. Lucy commented that flattening the boat onto a plane gets it going into the wind better. Peter E trailed the Fireball by a minute and a half with Peter half a minute back but 3 seconds ahead of Rod S. Dave K, in his second sail for the season 2 and a half minutes back. Some of those in bigger rigs thought better of it in race 2 as Dave and Rod DNS with Mike W joining them. Peter E retired along with Jamie B leaving the Fireball and Peter C’s Radial to slug it out. The Fireball went past your scribe at one stage moving very, very quickly and was ahead of Peter C by 37 seconds at the end of the race.

Division 2 race 1 saw a bit of a procession with Geoff D always in front, but very closely followed by Harry C on the 4.7 who trailed by 13 seconds. James, who passed your scribe by the first windward mark despite having been warned that he might gravely damage his handicap if he did so, was third home trailing Harry by a minute with your scribe a further 51 seconds back but ahead of Tony C by 14 seconds. For a short while your scribe thought he was in with a chance of lines honours as Tony C hit a mark and did the appropriate penalty allowing the Scribe through. Then Geoff D tipped at the second windward mark allowing Tony, who had re-passed the scribe, and then the scribe to get through. But as Tony had previously showed these sailors don’t appreciate seeing a boat ahead and Geoff overtook the scribe but could not catch Tony who led him 45 seconds with the Scribe 30 seconds behind and James, in the heavier weather, 3 minutes back. (Harry C retired). Div 3 saw Bobby, with greater experience, nearly 4 minutes ahead of Henry in, I think, a great first effort.

Peter V set again set the course with aplomb and arms at right angles, assisted by Scotty moving from start boat to rescue jet ski as the occasion warranted. The Jet Ski seems ideal for rescue, but may lack something as a mark laying vessel. Glen was safety boat and Molly followed the learners. Thanks are due to all of these. Julie was as busy as always and Anne did the control tower.

Coming up:

Saturday 21 March 2026.
1400 Bengalut Balug series continues.
0900 Junior and Senior L2 Sail
Saturday 21 March 2026 and Sunday 22 March 2026.
Fireball State Titles
OK Dinghy State Titles
Volunteers may be asked for.
(Note that there is a wedding on the rigging area on Sunday; space may be limited and you are requested to off load boats and park upstairs).

Saturday 21 March 2026.
1400 Bengalut Balug series continues.
0900 Junior and Senior L2 Sail

With no sailing over the winter your scribe had a bit of spare time which he put to use by borrowing a couple of books from the Club so he could learn to navigate. Here are some of the things he learnt:
And following on from the last two weeks and if you don’t have a sextant handy you can estimate distance off and plot by compass bearing. The method generally used to estimate the distance off is for the observer too raise or lower his/her line of sight until the point appears to just rest on his visible horizon, the distance is then calculated from the formula:
Square root of (height of observer (metres) + height of point (metres) X 4.3. So:
• observe the bearing from the point
• estimate the distance to the point
• plot a straight position line to lay off the true bearing obtained from the object
• plot a circular position line at the estimated distance about the point
• read off the fix from where the lines cross