The Port MacDonnell Sailing Club hosted its final race for 2024 on the weekend and thankfully the weather was perfect, enabling four races to be held to make up for some of the missed racing days earlier in the season.
Racing started in gentle 6-7 knot winds for the five boats who took to the water to race.
Race officer Dennis Illman was assisted on the committee boat by Nick Watson, who set a short course for the day’s racing allowing more races to be held.
The wind conditions favoured the smaller Austral20s with Steve Dyble’s Austral20 ‘Minty’ crossing the start line first and Tom Paltridge’s Austral20 ‘Windy Fred’ close behind.
Dave Evans on ‘Farr-mer’ was able to pick up a few places as the race was sailed, the larger sail area enabling him to overtake ‘Minty’ and ‘Windy Fred’.
In the end ‘Farr-mer’ took line honours in the first race, with ‘Windy Fred’ holding on to cross the finish line 22 seconds later.
The light winds continued for the next race.
This time ‘Farr- mer’ timed the start perfectly and started the race in first position.
‘Minty’ also had a good start, starting in second place for this race. In a replica of the first race, ‘Farr-mer’ again took line honours with ‘Windy Fred’ following behind in second place.
Race three started in similar conditions to the previous two races.
It was obvious that ‘Farr-mer’ had found the perfect position to start in as they once more started the race as the first boat across the start line.
Austral20 ‘Papillion’, skippered by Mack Ferguson, was the second boat to start in this race.
The fleet stayed fairly close together but still ‘Farr-mer’ led the fleet.
They had another line honours in race three, with ‘Windy Fred’ once more finishing behind them.
The wind picked up during race three and race four was held in slightly stronger 8-12 knot winds.
The wind direction also swung from south-southeast to south-southwest.
However, this did not bother ‘Farr-mer’ who again had a perfect start.
‘Windy Fred’ also handled the changing conditions well to start as second across the line. The boats stayed that way for the rest of the race and ‘Farr-mer’ had a clean sweep of four line honours in the day.
After racing the Port MacDonnell Sailing Club held its Christmas dinner for sailors, onshore members and family.
Racing will resume for the club at the beginning of February.
Race Results
Race 1: 1. Windy Fred (T. Paltridge, D. Brown) 2. Papillon (M. Ferguson, G. McKay, J. Kain) 3. Minty (S. Dyble, N. Delissen, R. White) 4. Farr-mer (D. Evans, D. McMahon, D. Brooksby) 5. Sherwin Road (D. Carlyle, R. Harding, B. Mann).
Race 2: 1. Windy Fred (T. Paltridge, D. Brown) 2. Papillon (M. Ferguson, G. McKay, J. Kain) 3. Farr-mer (D. Evans, D. McMahon, D. Brooksby) 4. Minty (S. Dyble, N. Delissen, R. White) 5. Sherwin Road (D. Carlyle, R. Harding, B. Mann). Race 3: 1. Windy Fred (T. Paltridge, D. Brown) 2. Papillon (M. Ferguson, G. McKay, J. Kain) 3. Minty (S. Dyble, N. Delissen, R. White) 4. Sherwin Road (D. Carlyle, R. Harding, B. Mann) 5. Farr-mer (D. Evans, D. McMahon, D. Brooksby).
Race 4: 1. Windy Fred (T. Paltridge, D. Brown) 2. Papillon (M. Ferguson, G. McKay, J. Kain) 3. Minty (S. Dyble, N. Delissen, R. White) 4. Farr-mer (D. Evans, D. McMahon, D. Brooksby) 5. Sherwin Road (D. Carlyle, R. Harding, B. Mann).
