RC of Sailing, LBS Race 1
Long Bay Series Race #1.
Last Sunday, 11th October, MYC was Duty Club for the first of the Long Bay Series (LBS) races for Season 2020/21. The 26 South Fleet mustered only 4 boats, Blew Bayou, Infraction, 4 Play and Ocean Warrior but we had a great day. We were forecast to have a fresh breeze 10-15 knots all day and a 33Nm course was set. Sea and weather conditions were perfect, however for most of the day, we only saw 5-8 knots of the forecast breeze.
Thank you very much to the Start Boat crew Suzanne Mabbott, Gary Schulz and Peter Bradford who got us off to a true windward start at 1005.
Unexpectedly, we had a solid beat all the way to the Northwest Fairway – extremely difficult for 4 Play which was forced inshore in the light breeze. The second leg to the Gneerings ECM was a reach, seeing both Infraction and 4 Play running spinnakers hard on the beam. The third leg and fourth legs to the Mooloolaba Waverider and Mudjimba Island respectively were downwind legs with all boats flying spinnakers and Infraction expanding its lead on the rest of the fleet. The final leg back home was a very comfortable close reach seeing Infraction taking line honors’ followed by Blew Bayou, 4 Play and Ocean Warrior. The difference in finishing time over the 33Nm was only 37 minutes.
We all agreed, even though the breeze was light we had a beautiful sail in the sunshine, covered plenty of the bay and all boats sailed well without incident.
Thank you to all skippers and crew for participating and special thanks again to the volunteer Start Boat crew.
We hope to see more participants taking advantage of the fantastic sailing conditions we have in the bay in the next LBS race on Sunday 22nd November.
A reminder that the first race in the Lady Helm Series is only 2 weeks away on Sunday 25th October.
Come along and enjoy the challenge, fun and friendship of sailing.
Cheers, I hope to see you on the water soon.
Mark Coghlan, RC Sailing