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Peter Campbell writes, ‘It was great getting a win on Saturday after our second place the week before.

Our start was delayed when the RANSA start boat broke down, and we spent some time enjoying the radio chatter from several boats trying to find the start.

Fortunately, collaboration between RSYS and MHYC salvaged the event, and the mighty Hugh George powered in from the north, allowing for a very professional start, just 15 minutes late.

Our start wasn’t too bad; though some may have noticed the main sheet came off the leeward winch 5 seconds before the gun and we were slow to get power off the line. Rolled over by Ultreya, we tacked for clear air towards Bradleys Head. This worked out well and after tacking back with the fleet towards Steel Pt we were well placed. By Rose Bay mark Gusto was just ahead of us, close to Blue Tack, Toybox, and Erica, with the other 38s behind. From there, the race was ours to lose!

A planned “float drop” at Kirribilli didn’t go as expected, and we lost some ground to Chainsaw and Like Oxygen—maybe about 20 seconds. The following work and rounding of Shark Island went well. The X44s gained as expected, but we managed to hold off Gusto and extend the gap to Chainsaw.



Rounding Point Piper, we should have gone with the asymmetric spinnaker but stuck with the S2, which we delayed hoisting. Both Gusto and Chainsaw managed the reach to Obelisk better than Cuckoo’s Nest, but we made up some ground on the work to Rose Bay. Have I mentioned that, while I dislike the Combined Club “Cook’s Tour” courses, maybe we just need more practice on tight reaches?

We held position between Gusto and Chainsaw from Rose Bay to Taylors Bay and then, after we took a chance and split tacks, lost a minute up the final work to the finish in Rose Bay.

Memories from the day include the congestion at the Rose Bay AS mark caused by the very large number of anchored charter party boats; the Rose Bay seaplane taking off amongst the fleet; the first "float drop" (which didn’t happen) at Kirribilli; and the final hoist at Point Piper when the brace parted company from the pole. That’s the negative stuff but the win, the Spring season crew and partners dinner in the Careening Cove Room with a gift from the crew of a case of assorted wine from RSYS cellar, was a fabulous end to the day and the season. What a crew!!’

See the full results

Photos by Margaret Fraser-Martin 28 September 2024