It was another sensational day on the water, with a blissful nor’easter steadily building throughout the day. As the first weekend of February rolled in, so did the third round of the Single-Handed Club Championship. Doug and Troy were joined by John on duty, running four races before lunch, followed by two more in the afternoon. With one of the largest fleets of the season hitting the water, there was plenty of action on the racecourse.
A strong fleet of ten Hobie 14s lined up at the start, with Paddy taking out the first four races. MB and both McKenzie boys were hot on his heels, but young Macca, after some time off the water, found his limit at the offset mark—digging the bows in just enough for Big Mac to sneak past. Jeremy and Brian sailed consistently, with Brian showing little sign of the time he’s spent off the water this season. Spinelli also had moments of greatness as he focused on pure boatspeed. However, the real battle was between Dobbo and Adrian, capturing everyone’s attention. Adrian currently sits a few points ahead of Dobbo in the Summer Handicap, while the two are deadlocked in the Single-Handed Championship—every race now proving crucial in the season standings.
Although it was a Single-Handed Championship event, it was fantastic to see so many double-handed boats out on the water. Egbert & Helen were once again on fire as they continued their preparation for the Jervis Bay Classic later this season. Meanwhile, Jake had his brother Jason on the front of the Hobie 18, chasing down the Nacra 5.8. Clare & Kerry returned for another jaunt on the Hobie 16, with Courtney & Hazel hunting them down at every mark rounding.
After a delicious lunch prepared by Joel and Rennie, the fleet hit the water once again for two more races in an increasingly blustery seabreeze. The stars of the afternoon were undoubtedly Rennie & Joel, who showcased just how quick a Dragoon can go when the breeze is up and there’s a little extra weight on board. We can only imagine how fast the boat will be once the kite is rigged! Andrew finally found his groove, working in perfect harmony with the nor’easter. However, it was Paddy who drew the short straw, capsizing at the top mark in the final race after snapping his trapeze wire clean in half—an unfortunate end to an otherwise dominant day on the water.
With SailGP on next weekend, be sure to hit the water early so you can return in time to catch all the action on the big screen in the afternoon. Jake & Suzi will be on duty—see you then!
