With the last two races abandoned or cancelled due to extremely strong winds, it was wonderful to come down to the club at 9am to open the boat shed, and be faced with plenty of water, sparkling in the sun, and a gentle breeze. While I opened up, the junior sailors and parents arrived and quickly got all the gear out, rigged and ready to go by 10am. With the start time scheduled for 10.30 I briefed them about the course, and decided to give them a practice race at 10.15, as none had ever dinghy raced before. Getting onto the water presented a few safety problems as there is a large digger in a temporary compound, blocking off the safe access to the slipway, which avoids the road. This meant parents had to escort the children through the roadway, and lines of parked cars to get to the ramp. Four Optis and the Sunburst made it safely to the slip and launched. By this time the wind had become very fickle, the tide stronger, and it was a huge achievement to beat up to the line for the start. The practice race was an easy win for Harrison, as only he and Grace were anywhere near the line as the start gun went. They both found it tough going to reach the windward mark, set close into the shore, but still with over a knot of tide against them. Mackenzie followed, but also found the tide a challenge. Isaac sensibly retired as he found beating against the tide was an impossible task. Races 1 & 2 became much closer as the three youngsters gradually got to grips with the fickle wind and how to cope with the strong tide. Results in those races Harrison 1st, Grace 2nd and Mackenzie 3rd. The final race, the tide had eased and the wind strengthened, and all three were closer to the start line, going in the right direction and sailed really well around the course. Same results as the first race but much closer competition. Watch out Harrison……. !:-)) will all be after you next time. Overall Points in the Junior Dinghy Series 1st Harrison Wills. 3pts 2nd Grace Munro. 6pts 3rd Mackenzie Wills. 9pts We are using the low points scoring system, with one discard in the series if five or more races are completed. If four or less races are sailed, no discards. Only two more Fridays before Christmas, and we will try to sail earlier on the 16th so that we have time to enjoy a party and the Pot Luck Dinner afterwards. Gill Moore Dinghy sailing Coordinator |
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