Thursday, 12th September 2019
Making a good start was a key factor in the outcome of this race. The skippers and crew of the 16 yacht fleet were unaware that 3 yachts had started too soon. What was a disappointment to those four yachts was good news for the remaining yachts who received an unexpected boost to their aggregate scores. First across the finish line with a healthy lead was WINSOME (Simon Hemingway). Unfortunately she was judged DNS as was LA MER (Michael Ebeling) who crossed the finish line in 9th place. DELL ERA (Mike Coulter) also started too soon and received a 5 minute penalty. (A strong tide was mentioned as a contributing factor to the early starts). Nevertheless all four yachts completed the longest course of the series in a breeze that shifted from the north west to the west and strengthened as the race progressed. It averaged about 12 knots for the morning at Fawkner Beacon but the
race was over before the breeze strengthened further and the rain commenced. Read more…