Samuel Taylor Coleridge was again on the minds of crew on the seven yachts that faced the starter in last Sunday’s “river B” event sailed on the Hastings river between the Settlement Point and Hibbard ferries. With around 2 knots of breeze, unrippled water and tidal run of about 1.5 knots, there was little prospect of starting at the scheduled time.

At the invitation of Vice Commodore Andrew McLeod, Bellingen based Farrier 22 trimaran, Affogato a twin to the Vice Commodore’s 2XS Farrier 22, made the trip to the Hastings and may have wondered why, as it endured the windless pre start along with the good turnout of local yachts. Being in the same class close racing between the pair was anticipated in the event a race was able to be run.

The race duly got underway, when, after drawing on a wealth of knowledge of the local weather patterns the Officer of the Day, (OOD), sensibly delayed the start 30 minutes, by which time a lively South Easterly breeze had arrived.

It appears the delay likely discombobulated some skippers, as the start was largely uncontested, although Mimosa, Cool Change and eventual race winner Zig Zag were in the first few boats to cross the start. The two Farrier trimarans started mid fleet, and with their superior boat-speed soon raced to the front of the fleet, settling down to a race between two,  with Affogato appearing to have the initial advantage.  That tri, however soon lost it’s advantage as it sailed towards the shallows, with its twin calling out a timely warning, and averting a possible running aground.

With the following yachts now making good use of the breeze Tribal Wave was well placed while the leading monohull,  ZigZag was going the whole nine yards trying to take the lead from the two trimarans flying it’s masthead S1 spinnaker in the light airs. With a crew vastly experienced in spinnaker work, for a while Zig Zag looked magnificent as it powered up the Hastings, until it appeared the kicker let go, a moment caught while our club photographer was attempting to catchthe two trimarans and Zig Zag together on the race course.  

It is only with apologies to those concerned we publish an image of this occurrence.

In any event, the breeze remained remarkably consistent over the race course for the duration of the race.

The first two boats to finish, unsurprisingly, were the two trimarans, with 2XS taking the honours there, while Zig Zag well sailed apart from it’s single spinnaker single mishap was first of the monohulls to finish.

After the handicapper had his say the final results were Zig Zag first, the remarkably consistent Tribal Wave second, while Cool Change was third. 2XS was fourth, Mimosa fifth and Third Man sixth. Affogato which was second across the line was without a PMYC handicap.