The day started with promising conditions for racing, with winds ranging from 8 to 18 knots—ideal for an exciting day on the water. However, the first race faced an unexpected challenge when the finish boat, manned by Steve and Jamie, had to respond to an emergency rescue as Doug capsized and turtled his boat. This incident left poor Steve braving the water to assist.
The second race commenced in similarly gusty conditions, featuring a daring port-tack start by Macca, who managed to execute it successfully. Mid-race, the start boat had to leave its station when Steve and Kai Clark suffered a broken mast after encountering a heavy wave. The rescue boat returned just in time to oversee the finish of race 2.
The day continued to test the sailors, with Dobbo experiencing a dramatic “tea-bagging” incident and subsequent capsize, while Howard received assistance from MB and Rennie to stay afloat.
Race 3 saw the conditions intensify, with only four boats lining up for the start. Despite the lumpy seas, the fleet managed a clean start. The finish boat faced its own challenge when its anchor snapped, making it difficult to hold the finish line steady. Macca claimed line honours for the third time, showcasing consistency across the day.
Meanwhile, racing on Botany Bay out of Kurnell Catamaran Club for the annual Top Gun Regatta was Paddy Butler, with supercrew Emma Webb on the Hobie 18. The pair sailed consistently in very gusty, patchy and shifty conditions to finish second overall in Division 1. Going up against two-time olympic silver medallist John Forbes and his daughter Bronte, the pair gave him a run for their money, with the results not quite reflecting just how close Emma & Paddy came to claiming the top spot. Big congrats to the VSC’s friend Michael Taylor for locking in his first bullet and finishing third overall in the division.
Next weekend in Jervis Bay, the VSC is hosting the OK Dinghy State Championships on Saturday and Sunday. It’ll be all hands on deck in the canteen and out on the water, so any available assistance will be much appreciated. Stay tuned for Grom Sailing activities for Sunday afternoon.