Friday 20th January at 5pm the first Junior Sailing session started with a fresh westerly breeze helping the Hobsonville Junior sailors to have a wonderful start to the 2017 season. The Wills family turned up in force, with Stuart taking out the safety boat and Erica getting the Optis rigged and ready to sail. Mark Jones kindly offered to help with instructing etc, and Trevor Higgins helped with the shore party work, launching and retrieving and getting the boats safely stowed! Many thanks to both Mark and Trev, who helped out at a moments notice, without hesitation when we were short handed on the helpers front. Also a huge thank you to Denise and Gary for their selfless help with the general organisation. The course was set by Mark as a two sail reach between laid marks off the clubhouse and ramp. The three Optis, helmed by Mackenzie, Harrison and Aman, plus the Sunburst helmed by Nick with sons Isaac and Finloe crewing, sailed three practice races. Aman who is so attracted to the water, filled his Opti with it, and had heaps of fun with the bailer trying to empty it! This slowed him down somewhat, leaving the other three boats to be competitive. The kids had to beat back into the ramp which made it quite tricky and challenging, and Denise managing to grab a few errant Optis, who were struggling to reach the shore against the wind and the mud, which claimed a few victims! At the debrief Mackenzie was chosen as the Sailor of the Day, having shown competence throughout the evening. Well done and under quite strong winds too. Gill Moore (Dinghy Sailing Coordinator) |
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