Instead of being belted by the usual strong sea breeze at this time of the year the fleet of 20 yachts were locked in tactical duels in a gentle 10-knot westerly breeze that tested seamanship and strategy.
In division one, Ryan Binedell had Low Flying Duck living up to her name, winging away to set fastest time by six minutes. However the yacht was relegated to second on handicap by a “one for the memories” performance by Des Riley in Hard Evidence with Bad Habits (Ian Holder) in third place.
Pinta (Kevin Stacey) continued on her winning way in division two in a closely fought race with less than three minutes between first and fourth.
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READ NOWFarrouk (Leigh Burrows and Rod Hernaman) set fastest time and was second on handicap, while John Newman sailed Sublime into third place.
Post-race celebrations included a farewell to popular Pinky’s Wet Bar barman Ron Searle, who decided to retire after serving sailors, wedding guests, power boaties, divers, anglers and the Wednesday Fat Boy cyclists for the past six years. Testament to his popularity was the huge turnout for a final drink.