It was another fantastic day at the Vincentia Sailing Club, with a great turnout for the latest round of the Single-Handed Championship. The fresh south-easterly breeze set the stage for a hotly contested long course, weaving around the cardinal markers scattered across Jervis Bay.
After a quick debrief from Paddy, the fleet hit the water, showcasing a solid mix of talent and camaraderie. The Hobie 14 lineup included MB, Adrian, Dobbo, Paddy, Marc, Doug, and Rennie, with Andrew Mac and Craig joining the action on their 14 Turbos. Nigel and Fionbarr represented the Hobie 16s, while Egbert and Helen brought their powerhouse Nacra 5.8 to the mix. Even Kiaran made an appearance, albeit fashionably late for Race 2!
The first race was a spectacle, with the fleet jockeying for position to the first mark. The Nacra took an early lead, stretching its legs as the boats reached across the bay from Plantation Point to Huskisson Beach. A couple of laps around the sanctuary zone markers tested everyone’s skills before a tight run back to the finish. Andrew clinched the win for the small boats, while Egbert and Helen took line honours with a commanding lead.
Rennie had a day to remember, navigating a very, very wide line and even squeezing in a refreshing swim on the way to the finish.
Lunch was another highlight, with a delicious spread prepared by Esther, Nicole, and Steve Anderson. The mango salad was the standout dish, leaving everyone recharged and ready for the afternoon.
Race 2 saw Egbert and Rennie step back to let the rest of the fleet battle it out. It was Hobie racing at its finest—tight competition, a little friendly argy-bargy, and plenty of action. Paddy came out on top after a nail-biting finish to shore, while Andrew, Nigel & Fionbarr, and the rest of the fleet worked hard to find pockets of breeze in the dying wind.
The Hodder kids—Liam, Evan, and Joel—took the Hobie Wave out for some afternoon fun, practicing their capsize and recovery skills with impressive confidence.
A huge thanks to everyone who helped make the day a success. Don’t forget, next Sunday is the VSC Christmas party! Bring your most creatively decorated bottle for our annual competition, with bragging rights up for grabs. The youth sailors are invited to join in too, with their own 1.25L soft drink creations. Let’s make it a festive finish to the spring season!
On Monday, Paddy, Marc and a gaggle of the groms hit the water for an unreal Wave Challenge. The team sailed from Plantation to Moona (where they jumped off the bridge of course) and back again with a few capsizes in between. The MVPs of the day went to Lottie and Liana for a dominant performance over the boys, whilst Paddy almost broke his record for the most capsizes in one day with 8 over the course of the two sessions.
See you all on the water!
