The old saying that “One swallow doesn’t make a summer” has been thrown out the window with the performance of Frank Lagudi’s Third Man as that yacht continues to sail it’s socks off in both Port Macquarie Yacht Club’s river and ocean series.

After unlocking several additional knots per hour extra performance during the 2024 sailing season Third Man took the honours in last Sunday’s River “B” sailed between the Settlement Point and Hibbard ferries.

Five yachts faced the starter on a day where the breeze ignored the weather forecast building consistently from 8 knots to a boisterous 15 knots over the course of the race. With a wide start line, Cool Change, helmed at the start by Mimosa’s Larissa Trapeznikova, was clearly first over the start line, after brilliantly executing a timed run start. Cool Change was closely followed by Enticer, 2XS, with Tribal Wave and Third Man, following in close company.

Within a few hundred meters of the start, however, the order had changed with the Trimaran, 2XS unsurprisingly leading the fleet. Down the order the placings had been shuffled around, mostly in line with the hull speeds of the various yachts, with Enticer chasing the trimaran, and in turn being pursued by Third Man, Cool Change relinquished its lead and the 25 foot Tribal wave trailing.

This order was maintained until the end of the race, although Third Man made up much ground and was able to attempt a move on the faster Enticer at the first rounding of the top mark, which unfortunately for that yacht did not come off. To rub salt into Third Man’s wounds, her missed opportunity allowed Cool Change to briefly catch up.

In a building breeze the order on water order remained unchanged for the remainder of the race, with the finishing order being 2XS, Enticer, Third Man and Tribal Wave.

The handicapper was yet to have his say, and after handicaps were applied, the degree to which Third Man had “sailed it’s socks  off” was revealed in the handicap winning margin. 2XS was placed second with Cool Change third with Third Man taking the series lead.

The full race result is shown below.