Strong easterlies provided good sailing conditions for both races of the Hillarys to Fremantle and return ocean races on the weekend.

On Saturday, starting at Hillarys, the division three fleet all put a reef in the mainsail. Unfortunately, that was not enough for Intuition, which suffered damage to the reefing points and retired. The brisk breeze sent the fleets southwards on a shy run at a fair clip before the wind waned and moved however, Lithium was there first in two and a half hours, a pretty quick run. Unfolding on Marine Traffic for those at home, it was an interesting tactical beat to the finish line for Mulberry, Resolute, Kind of Blue and Seachange. With Mulberry just getting there by seconds, having made up the 10-minute start they gave the division three boats.

Mulberry was well ahead in division one, recording a first and fastest, with Sophia second and Circa third.

The fastest time in division two went to Farrouk ahead of Blue Chip by two minutes, but Blue Chip was first on handicap, just 37 seconds ahead of Show Me and Helga in third place.

The strong easterly suited the big Oceanis 46 Kind of Blue, and they were first in division three ahead of Resolute and Stelfred. Lithium was the fastest.

A leisurely afternoon for crews re-hydrating with refreshments set the scene for dinner at the Fremantle Sailing Club and the traditional epic quiz with host Captain Tim. Rivalling poets Byron, Shelley or Keats, the Captain forewarned with a poem, “Twas the night before Freo" containing the verse:

As for the quiz, I give this advice,
Load up “KAHOOT!” on a mobile device.
I’m not playing piano, that’s far too risky,
There will be a prize though, this year, it’s whiskey.


The last question separated winners and runners-up where you could choose as feedback for the quizmaster:

D. Stop now-I’ve lost the will to live.

Which brought howls of laughter when repeated in Pinky’s on Sunday.

As predicted, the return race started at 1100.

If the wind stays as forecast, the trip home will be quick,
So why not sleep in, and care for the sick?
An eleven o’clock deal, I’m willing to broker,
To get us to Pinky's in time for the “Joker”.


Perle sailed down from Hillarys to join in the return race making four for the division one fleet and six in each of two and three.
The easterly fluctuated making a spinnaker start difficult: which side for the pole? Some didn’t bother and Perle had a good look at the south mole with the pole on the wrong side. After a beat back to Burnell and a kite run out to the channel marker, everyone settled in for the long beat up to Beach, straight-line sailing just trimming to avoid using the hand-brake. Another short shy kite leg to Anchor, back up to Whale and another beat, too shy for the spinnaker, to the finish line at Hillarys.

Mulberry made it two out of two with another first and fastest ahead of Perle and Sophia in division one.

Blue Chip also cracked the double with a win in division two albeit by a minute and a half from Show Me and Farrouk which was fastest again. After three and, half hours of racing the first three places were within a couple of minutes and Blue Chip’s combined winning margin for both races was just over two minutes.

The straight line sailing on a strong easterly suited the Delphia 40 Seachange and they set a very quick return time in division three, although well behind Lithium, to be first on handicap ahead of Resolute and Stelfred. Tosca sailed well to be in contention but retired after missing the mark. The weekend belonged to Resolute with two second placings.

At Pinky’s for presentations the loud applause was reward for all the organisation, the poem, the quiz and humour that Captain Tim brought to a fun-filled weekend of sailing and camaraderie for the Keelboat fraternity of HYC.

Many thanks also to the start-team for their race management on both days.

John Bird