Friday, 31st May 2019
The weather in Port Philip on Wednesday afternoons continues to be as variable as ever. The start of race 8 was postponed due to no wind. In contrast, strong gusty winds prevailed during what would have been race 9. On Tuesday evening the Bureau of Meteorology issued a gale warning for Port Philip but by Wednesday morning this had become a strong wind warning. The bureau forecast: “A vigorous west to south westerly airstream in the wake of a cold front will shift south to south westerly and moderate during the afternoon and evening as a trough crosses Bass Strait.” Fawkner Beacon recorded an average wind speed of about 27 knots for the afternoon which included a gust of 46 knots at 1514. This was the highest wind speed recorded on a Wednesday afternoon in either the last summer or this winter series. Few, if any, would have been disappointed that the race (including the Century Class) was abandoned. The century Class is rescheduled for race 10 (weather permitting). Read More.