Wild Winds
Kirk Marcolina
A wild, windy afternoon was more than a challenge for the nearly 40 sailors who braved the tough conditions for Autumn Pointscore heats 9 and 10. The BOM issued a strong wind warning, but at 2pm there was a gentle 10 knot breeze blowing from the West, and the fleet sailed the first part of heat 9 in light to moderate conditions. But towards the end of the race the conditions changed abruptly; the BOM prediction proved correct with gusts of up to 40 knots blowing through the harbour. Several times more than half the fleet seemed to be capsized when a bullet shot out of the West. In a testament to the harsh conditions 15 sailors chose to retire from heat 9, and the race committee cancelled heat 10 due to the dangerous winds. Congratulations to the hardy competitors who came out on top after handicapping: Full Rigs: Nick Pellow, Radials/4.7s: Simon Stone. Thanks also to the race committee for braving the wind, and putting on a well-run race day filled with several rescues: PRO Clare Alexander, assisted by John Chesterman, COTD John Vasey, CoCOTD David Ferguson, and Canteen Assistant Jules Hall. Thanks also to Brett Beyer for doing his fair share of rescues.
Saturday’s Growing Breeze.