Race Reports

The 2012 Whitsunday Sailing Club Easter Regatta has now concluded and the series results are in.

For a second year the weather was on its best behaviour, with clear skies and fair (but tricky) breezes all weekend. A generous helping of tidal current also kept sailors’ minds on tactics throughout the series.

With a slightly smaller fleet than some previous years, a single start was set for each race, giving over 20 boats the chance to practice their “big fleet” racing tactics as they each sought out clear air at the starts and a clear path to the top mark.

The typically shifty, gusty winds of Pioneer Bay also required keen focus and a willingness to change plans to suit the next gust. Once around the top mark, sailors were occasionally rewarded with a good gust to set them off planing to the next mark.

In a repeat of last years weather, the last afternoons racing saw the breeze pick up and smiles on the faces of some of the heavier crews.

A huge thank-you…

Once again, an enormous thank-you must go to our dedicated team of volunteers - some from neighbouring clubs - who helped make the regatta possible. Without their commitment and generous donation of time, none of us could enjoy the racing we all love so much.

Thankyou to:

Paul Effeny, who stepped in at short notice to serve as our PRO and run the start boat for the senior course
Brendan, Paul’s son, who helped out on the senior start boat despite nursing an injured foot
Bryn Wooding in the senior safety boat who tirelessly moved the course around between races as the wind shifted all around the bay
Andy Pearce, who manned the senior safety boat for our invitational race
Anthony Hoffman, who ran the start boat for the junior course
Gray Annear, who lent a hand (or two) raising flags on the junior course start boat
Alan McCaragh and Johanna Winstanly who also stepped in at short notice to man the junior course safety boat, and help out some of the newer sailors in the junior fleet
Terry Archer, who manned the junior safety boat for our invitational race
Ali Swain, who made sure that everyone was fed throughout the Regatta
Angela Rae, who in addition to her usual duties at the club, lent her time and (seemingly boundless) energy to arranging food, drink and seating downstairs
Steve Gibson, whose help with the results, and sorting out sign on sheets prevented Daniel Scott from going quietly “doolally”

Prizes Awarded

Overall “mixed fleet” prizes were awarded in both the junior and senior fleets, with class prizes being awarded to any type of boat with four or more entries.