It was a long hot day at sea for the keelboats of HYC competing in the annual Fairway Ocean Race when a forecasted sea breeze of 12 knots was really seven and dwindling to a zephyr for the tail-enders ghosting home at sunset.

In division one, Mulberry eked out an 18-minutes lead over Perle to cross the line first but second on handicap by 2.10 after six hours of sailing (racing would be an exaggeration). Perle had chased down Circa between the port channel marker and the finish line to finish and first on handicap with Circa third.

Drama unfolded in division two with two yachts “on course side-OCS” and forced to re-start however it didn’t seem to worry Blue Chip, who despite a battle with Covert Operation for line honours was first and fastest. Second was Show Me ahead of Volant. Drama too on the leg to Gage Roads Red A when a rather large ship, sounding his horn and travelling at 10 times the speed of the little yachts, mostly division two and three, bore down on them accompanied by the pilot boat who encouraged the yachts to move on. If only they could.

Without the use of a spinnaker for the long leg from Fremantle to Sorrento, the division three boats improvised by poling out their headsail, however the slow pace and the heat took its toll with three retirements. Defying this trend completely was Lamotrek who was quicker than even the division two boats to be first and fastest. Seachange performed creditably in such a light breeze for a large cruiser (Delphia 40) for second place ahead of Tosca.

With the Pot of Gold and Dash for Cash on Saturday everyone will be hoping for a little more wind and a wee bit cooler.

Thanks to Rob James for photos of the start/finish, to be posted on the Keel Cloud.

John Bird