Race Report - Saturday 17 January 2026

All photos by Christine Patton

Autumn Point Score Races 3 & 4

The forecast for the day’s sailing was for 30 knot gusts and torrential rain. Nobody on shore was looking particularly excited about heading out, and listening the to the 18's briefing didn't make us feel any better. The race committee went out on the RIB with John Vasey and as it did not look that bad between rain squalls, we thought we would give it a go. 

Laying the course was difficult as the wind was swinging around. Big thank you to Jim Dounis for his patience with moving buoys. 

The first race got underway with a solid breeze, but not the predicted wind. In the full rigs, Murray Stone and Geoff Boscoe sailed well, holding their placing throughout the race in tricky conditions. In the radials, Martin White had a solid lead on scratch, but David Airey sailed well getting the cookies for the race. 

The second race started with less breeze than the first, ending with virtually no wind, with the boats barely making it over the line. Tim Heath had one of his best races in the full rigs getting the win, and David Airey got another win in the radials. 

Congratulations to the sailors who braved about the rain and ignored the forecast. 

Special thanks to the on-water crew of Christine Patton, Jim Dounis, Richard George, Campbell Patton, Alessandro Buzzatti and his sister for the efforts in making a great day of sailing. 

— Geoff Kirk, PRO