Race Report Saturday 18 April 2026

Photo by Andrew Cox

Autumn Point Score Races 13 & 14

Who doesn’t love a Double Bay southerly!

The forecast due southerly – unusual in direction but simple in execution – was consistent right up to the start time. And then it wasn’t. Just as the orange “on station” went up, a massive left shift saw the top mark fully overlaid!  But it then corrected long and strong.  Right to the end of the start sequence.

And then not. A horrified race committee watched as the ILCA 6 / ILCA 4 fleet laid on port. The ILCA 7 start was postponed while a snappy course change was executed at the top mark with F1 pits-team precision by the on-RIB COTD team. And then, once the on-course fleet had cleared the start area, the ILCA 7s were finally off.

The monster shifts continued. Dave Newman reported that one minute he was on port heading 190° and the next minute he was on starboard – have a guess – heading 190°. Positions were won and lost on the whims of the shifts but, as ever, the pointy end just got pointier.

Instead of the forecast late-afternoon drift to the right, there was a persistent trend to the left, which saw a late-sequence AP in the second race to allow a further top mark adjustment, followed by another opportunity for the COTD to show off their skills – this time with a mid-race bottom mark rotation. Who doesn’t love pulling up marks a thousand times?

With not a cloud in the sky, it was a photographer’s dream – especially at the finish with the low afternoon sun back-lighting the sails of 40-odd boats against the city-bridge panorama. Thanks to Kirk Marcoline for the following photos:

And so the Autumn Point Score series was a wrap. The handicap winners on the day were Scott Finlayson and Charlotte Jenkins in the 6s, and Kerryn Smith backing up two firsts last week with two more again in the 7s … I’ll have what he’s having!

More importantly – drum roll please – the series winners were Martin White over Scott Finlayson taking out the “Jim Dounis” trophy in the 6s, and newby Sam Slattery over Mike Dunne in a close match for the “main event”.

Thanks to the on-water team – Andrew Cox, Wendell Wait, Kirk Marcolina (assisted by Rob), and Quentin Burns – backed up by handicapper, Scott Finlayson. Huge thanks to Paul and Shirley, as well as BBQ-chef, Peter Collie, for another class-of-its-own post-race spread.  And to Ryan Aldrich and Max Djura supporting in the canteen.

Winter series, here we come!

- Andrew Cox, PRO

A very happy looking Race Committee. Photo by Tim Heath.

Final BBQ feast of the season. Photo by Tim Heath.