Competition on April 11 was the coldest for the season for the Southern Highlands Sailing Club despite sunny condition.
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There was a windchill of 7 degrees and an air temperature at 9am of 7 degrees also. Net effect it felt like 0C.
The flag flew at half-mast following Prince Philip's "crossing the bar" last Friday.
Only very hardy souls went to the start line at 1pm as the wind was a steady westerly of 18 knots gusting 30-plus knots with small white caps at the northern end of the course.
The water was dead flat but the wind was gusting in swirls from many directions including straight down.
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Upwind to A mark was cold freezing slog for the monos and a real effort in keeping the boats upright. The cats were flying off their second start at 1.05 pm.
The fast reach to W mark was spectacular for all and then another reach down to C where the wind was gusting from zero to 15 knots, so places were gained as well as lost.
Then the long windward work to A mark then across to W then to the finish. The wind had fallen to about 12 knots but was still swirling and the finish at the clubhouse very tricky as the gusts were coming from the West and North west.
While the race times were fast the extreme wind chill and cold spray had exhausted the sailors when they reached shore. It took them nearly an hour to thaw out.
The planned second race timed for 3pm was cancelled as the cold wind had again increased.
By 4pm the wind had died to about 8 knots but it was still very cold.
Results were:
Race 9
Cats
- 1st Gordon Kay Calypso 16
- 2nd Kylie Woods Hobie 14 turbo
- 3rd Dave Morrow Tornado
- 4th Andrew Ostridge Nacra 5.8
- 5th Richard Hastings Nacra 14 sqm ST
- DNF Peter Field Nacra 5.8
Monos
- 1st Tim Vandervoort Spiral
- 2nd Geoff Sweeney Laser 4.7
- 3rd Bill Quinn Laser Std MK2 radial cut
- 4th Owen Muyt Melges 14 Blue
- DNF Chris Guy Laser Std MK2 radial cut
- DNS Bob Bailey Leader Cat rig
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