A strong wind forecast for later in the afternoon prompted Keel Captain Tim Tucker to successfully suggest an earlier start for the scheduled start of 1330, bringing it forward to 1100 hours on Sunday 4th February. Whether it was the weather or whether the wethers were still grazing, the fleet was smaller for a myriad of reasons; Mulberry was at Geographe Bay Race Week which also took Ray Murphy and Pinta out, Resolute still had engine/gearbox issues following the Rockingham cruise and perhaps the proposed course across Pinnaroo Point did not suit the deep keeled yachts. Nevertheless there were three starters for divisions two and three and the division one orphans Bad Habits and Perle sailed with two and three respectively for average points.

The anticipated wind began building before race-start and most opted for a reef in the main, still insufficient for poor La Premiere which suffered another rip in the main forcing a retirement. The reach out to Little and return to Cow Rocks tested the brave with spinnakers; Farrouk, Volant and Bad Habits showing how it is done and gybing to head north to the allocated ORSSC M mark (substituted by a DOT mark nearby). Perle led the division three boats astray, allowing Bad Habits and Farrouk to round first. Then the long beat back to the Club and beyond to Marina and Anchor began as the wind filled in further, reaching 22 knots and more. The run home to the finish was a quick broad reach and no one bothered with the spinnaker this time.

Farrouk was first and fastest (and bell-ringer) in division two after a duel with orphan Bad Habits with respectively finished just ahead and Show Me and Volant took second and third place. In division three Intuition had a win and Kind of Blue set fastest time (not counting Perle) and was second. It was a challenging introduction to helming for crew member Margaret on Perle but she kept smiling as the advice came thick and fast; a handy experience for the Lady Skippers’ Race in two weeks.

John Bird