Spring arrived on Sunday, and as usual provided plenty of surprises. With wind strengths forecast from 5 to 10 knots generally from the north forecast, several yachts in the Port Macquarie Yacht Club fleet were contemplating setting up for the forecast light airs when from about 11 am the stiff Nor East breeze set in for last Sunday’s offshore event. When the yachts started some yachts reefed down, with wind strengths in the 15 – 18 knot range, the “Golden zone” for sailing prevailing for the majority of the race.  

With good sized fleets being the norm, but with Mimosa being a late withdrawal, eight yachts faced the starter, mostly jostling for position at the pin end of the start line. Fortunately, while there were suggestions of barging, no protests were lodged, and the skill shown by all skippers ensured a safe start. Teddy Clausen’s Cool Change elected to avoid the pin end scrum, and was first across the start line, before normal order was restored with Enticer taking the lead shortly after the start. Solar Coaster was next over the line followed by Razzamatazz 2, Urchin, Kookaburra 2,  Zig Zag and Third Man, as the yachts set out on the northerly “course 4”.

Enticer took the lead on the water and was not headed for the entire race. Back in the pack, Kookaburra 2 was working her way through the fleet after her ordinary start, eventually passing the similar length Solar Coaster half way down the first leg. Razzamatazz 2 was holding station, while Zig Zag also was working her way steadily through the fleet. 

Enticer led at the first mark followed by Kookaburra 2, Solar Coaster, Zig Zag then Razzamatazz 2. With the exception of Solar Coaster, all the aforementioned yachts were sailing the longer division two course. Cool Change led the remaining (short course) division one yachts.

Zig Zag challenged and briefly took second place away from Kookaburra 2, before gear failure ended her race. Urchin and Third Man both also pulled out of the race before finishing.

The first yacht to cross her finish line was division one and eventual overall winner Solar Coaster, followed by Cool Change, taking second place overall, and being the only other division one boat to finish. Next over the line were division two yachts,  Enticer, followed by Kookaburra 2 then Razzamatazz 2, with Kookaburra 2 taking third place overall.