From our PRO Ash Deacon:

Wet, windy, wild and a tad cold might best describe the opener to the 2022/23 season and Club Championships heats 1 & 2. Thankfully the >25 knot forecast breeze didn't quite eventuate albeit many in the 25+ boat fleet assured me it felt like it, and we saw a lot of sailors capsizing to test the water temperature.
It was clear that the fleet of 'true believers' were keen to race as evident by the hotly contested starts resulting in a few general and individual recalls, black flags, and one OCS. The team on the yacht Smitten, generously loaned Kirk Marcolina, David Murphy, Justin Davey and Simon Stone, had an excellent and elevated vantage point to view each start. For future reference, anyone OCS is super easy to detect from Smitten !!
The SE course was set early in the day by Craig Sheers (COTD) with Scott Hunter & Quinn Pierson assisting on the water. By race time the breeze had settled to around 16 knots punctuated with lots of bullets of 20+ knots fanning out across the course and swinging between SE & more S during races. Thanks to the teams in the ribs for adjusting the position of rounding marks during the day. And a big thanks to 10-year old Joseph who took his dad Thomas Beregi on the rib for some rescue training (owing home one sailor with a broken mast).
Sylvie Stannage showed some great speed in the radial fleet, clearing out to win race 1, and leading the second. James Tudball stepped out to take the win in the second race. The standards delivered some very close racing in both races with David Newman taking the box of chocolates in the first race and Campbell Patton the second. Campbell was overheard to say how happy he was back sailing in cold winds after having had to suffer racing in Bermuda in recent times!
The post race BBQ lifted everyone's core temperatures and a special thanks to Shirley, Paul, Kim Ketelbey, Geoff Kirk for toasties and the hearty BBQ as always.
For anyone who wasn't able to race at the season opener, do make sure you adjust your life balance and find time to race in the Spring Point Score next weekend.

Editor’s note: It was fantastic to see Ash back at the club again!