Race Report - Saturday 6 September 2025

Sylvie showing everyone the way. All photos by John Chesterman.

Club Championships, Races 1 & 2

Finally, a sunny day, a nor’easter and predicted moderate wind.

It was also the first of the new Race Officer team, Dr Martin Gill and Gaye Rosen which includes a course laying app, live wind information and a few more innovations. Overall only a few tweaks were required to the course we had set earlier as the wind direction had gone slightly more easterly and we were ready for an on time start, getting both fleets off with clear starts.

We could see that those skilled at catching waves were really enjoying the downwind legs making significant gains as they carved their way down the course. As the afternoon progressed the wind strength increased stretching out the back of the fleet with many capsizes.

By the time we started the second race the wind was hovering just under 20 knots. The ILCA 4’s and 6’s got off to a clear start but the 7’s were overly enthusiastic and needed a black flag to settle down and get under way. With each lap we noticed signs of fatigue in many of the passing sailors, some opting to retire, while another shortened the course by giving the wing mark a miss.

On returning to the club we found that Shirley and Paul had prepared a very welcome feast including the roast potatoes that slowly evaporated while the sausages were cooked. In the end the BBQ and the tables were brought in out of the wind, which was not abating and only getting colder, and we sat down for a great feast. Many thanks to our youth team on the tongs.

- Peter Collie, LTRAR

The frontrunners were:

Race 1

ILCA 4:

1st Zac Howell
(Zac was first and last as the only competitor, proving it pays to turn up)

ILCA 6:

1st Sylvie Stannage
2st Roberto Blum
3rd Sara Bruce

ILCA 7:

1st Campbell Patton
2nd Rod Barnes
3rd Zander Bijkerk

Race 2

ILCA 4:

1st Zac Howell 

ILCA 6:

1st Sylvie Stannage
2nd Andrew Cox
3rd Sara Bruce

ILCA 7:

1st Zander Bijkerk
2nd Healy Ryan
3rd Rod Barnes