The Port MacDonnell Sailing Club held two races on the weekend, in typical bayside weather.

Race officer Chris Lynch and committee boat driver Chris Jacobs set the course in the waters in front of the club house.

Before the first race started there was drama on Austral20 ‘Mirage’, with Dave Evans falling overboard, while another Austral, ‘Papillion’, also had issues with its boom breaking and had to retire before the first race got under way.

Tom Paltridge’s Austral ‘Windy Fred’ had a great start to the race as the first boat across the line, followed by Dennis Illman’s ‘Mirage’.

The issues did not end when the race started as ‘Salt Peter’, skippered by Robin White, retired after the first lap.

In only its third race at the club, Jennifer Jones’ Austral20 ‘Pinky 2’ lost a shackle and did not have a replacement part on board, forcing the entry to retire from the race.

Out of the six boats that started the race, only four completed the course.

Line honours went to ‘Harmony’, with ‘Windy Fred’ crossing the finish line second.

Only two boats started the second race, with previous race winner ‘Harmony’ ripping a sail and having to retire to shore before starting the next race.

In the dramatic weather conditions, the first boat to cross the start line was not noted by the time keepers or the race officer.

Both boats that started the race did complete the race and ‘Windy Fred’ took out line honours only a minute ahead of second placed Austral20 ‘Minty’, skippered by Stephen Dyble.

Hopefully all boat repairs can be completed before next week’s stern chaser race from the waters in front of the club house and down to Brown Bay and back.