Race Report - Saturday 6 December 2025

Club Championship Races 7 & 8

Hot and Hazy weather over Sydney in the morning, the race team set out early with an ominous “north-west to north” forecast - it was light - but there was a small chance it was warming up for a nor-easter. So after the briefing, and after a slow journey out of the bay, 45 sailors were disappointed to find the wind had dropped further to about 2-3 knots from the east (on Martin’s wind instruments) and so the AP flag went up, we reduced the course size, and prayed for some good news from our friends up the Harbour off Vaucluse who were in the same dilemma and chatting on the VHF.

When we got word that the wind was building in Watsons Bay (and with our instruments now showing NNE and building), we made preparations to start the fleets. And just like that: we were rewarded with a steadily building breeze, and smiles all round from the sailors who set off and enjoyed ideal racing conditions building to 15 knots, and gusting up to 20knots by the end of Race 7. 

It was now time to increase to course size between races to allow for the additional breeze - thankyou RIB Safety Boat team for your swift shifting of the marks and accurate placement.

Race 8 got away with clear starts by both fleets (despite the outgoing tide), and the wind continued to build to 20-25knots and gusting up to 30 by the end. The sailors that persevered were rewarded with speed-way reaches and rollercoaster legs downwind with waves enlarged by the wind against the strong outgoing tide.

Campbell Patton excelled in the conditions (without hiking pads!) to take first place for ILCA 7 in both races, - where in Race 7 he was ahead of Rod Barnes second, and Murray Stone third, - in Race 8 ahead of Luke Parker second, and Rod Barnes third.

Andrew Cox took out first place in both races for ILCA 6 with fierce competition, - in Race 7 where he was battling Sylvie second, and Alistair Sutherland third, - and in Race 8 with a photo-finish win over Martin White second, and Scott Hunter third.

Zac Howell won first place in both races in ILCA 4, with Patrick McLachlan second.

And so with more than half of the Club Championship complete, the current leaders are:
ILCA 7 - Campbell Patton, Rodney Barnes, Hadrien Bourely
ILCA 6 - Andrew Cox, Martin White, David Airey
ILCA 4 - Zac Howell, Patrick McLachlan

Well done to all the sailors who survived the gusty conditions - some with bruises and some with breakages!
Thankyou to the Race Officers: Martin Gill and Gaye Rosen who organsed the starts with such precision assisted by your favourite commodore, yours truly on the Jazzman, and with Tim Heath & Van Allen on the Paul Adam 3 RIB, and John Vasey assisting as our second safety boat the Dene Bergman RIB.

On return to the clubhouse weary bodies slowly fired up the barbie (still fighting the wind), and we tucked into some steak and sausages with delicious salads and some of Paul’s special roasted potatoes :- Thankyou Paul Adam and also Shirley Roach for putting on such as feast, and to Jim Dounis on the BBQ and Ian Tudball, Katie and others for the cleanup. Thanks also to the pre-race Toasties Team: Derek Hand and David Newman.