“I’ve never seen anyone do it to themselves like Kookaburra just did” one skipper was heard to say after the cause of Kookaburra 2’s retirement from last Sunday’s Port Macquarie Yacht Club’s regatta became known post race. “Did they really did try to sink themselves?”, was the question after it was revealed that a seawater anchor chain washer pump had been (inadvertently) activated, overwhelming the anchor locker drains, and pumping several thousand litres of river water into Kookaburra 2’s forward and main cabins, capping off a miserable day and causing that yacht to withdraw from the regatta.

Putting aside Kookaburra 2’s misfortunes, last Sunday’s re run of the inshore regatta was declared a success by all. With light airs greeting the fleet the start of race one was postponed waiting for some wind to appear, which, about 30 minutes after the start time it did. Razamatazz 2 and Zig Zag contested the start of race one with Razamatazz taking the honours and Cool Change also being prominent. Kookaburra 2 started her miserable day being late due to an earlier gear failure and chased the entire fleet across the start line.

Race one of the regatta saw Razamatazz 2 build and maintain a small lead over Zig Zag while mid fleet Cool Change led the remaining boats all the way up the first leg to the turning mark. On the homeward leg Razamatazz 2 was engaged in a tactical battle with Zig Zag, while Kookaburra 2, with only about a third of the water she eventually took on was picking off the backmarkers, and managed to split Razamatazz 2 and Zig Zag to finish second over the line. Then followed, race one handicap winner, Cool Change next over the line with Third Man being the final yacht as Tribal Wave recorded a dnf.

With a reduction in current, race two of the regatta saw Tribal Wave, the smallest boat in the fleet, manage the conditions better than in the previous race, and in a complete reversal of fortune take handicap honours for that race. The first three yachts over the line Razamatazz 2, Zig Zag and Kookaburra 2 were separated by just over a minute, but were pipped for handicap placings, by Third Man which took second, with Zig Zag, second across the line being third on handicap.

Kookaburra 2 finished this leg now with about 5000 liters of riverwater on board, and for the first time seeing water swirling around in the cabin realised they had a serious water ingress and retired, after radioing ahead and requesting a high volume pump be on standby at Port Macquarie Marina.

Race three saw a more constant breeze with Razamatazz 2 again pipping Zig Zag for line honours, while Third Man improved to be third across the line and in doing so taking race three handicap win and also the regatta honours after tying on points with the consistent Zig Zag which was relegated to second on countback.

After taking line honours in all three races, Razamatazz 2 took third place overall, followed by Tribal Wave and the consistent but unlucky Cool Change.

Post Race there was a gathering at the Westport Club, where on a protest free day, several mark rounding issues generated convivial discussion about overlaps, buoy room, and the like between on water frenemies now sharing laughs over well earned beverages.