Race Report - Sunday 12 May, 2024
Chris Tattersall
Winter Championship & Pointscore (Races 1, 2 & 3)
Report by PRO Luke Parker:
Twenty brave (desperate?) souls left their mother figures for a sleep-in and fronted up for the first day of the 2024 Winter series. So did the rain. So did some wind, albeit fickle and shifty. On the upside, we had the harbour to ourselves.
Pre briefing the course was set for the prevailing westerly. Post briefing the wind shifted to southwest and so the course was quickly adjusted. Then a rainstorm moved on, and the wind shifted to a westerly-ish at 5-8 knots and the course was reset for Races 2 and 3. If you’re confused, be thankful you weren’t with Jim Dounis and Josh Dorey who were tasked with moving the buoys.
We got our 3 races off efficiently without further incident. The simple course layout and rolling starts worked well.
A critical request/reminder from the start boat: can all sailors ensure they sign on via the Sailor App with the correct sail number. Incorrect number means you won’t be scored.
Final comment: while early morning winter racing competes with a warm bed, it is truly a blessing to be able to sail on an empty Sydney Harbour. Just do it.