Quick thinking was the order of the day when the easterly died out and was replaced by the incoming sea breeze during the first of two races on Day 3 of the North Coast Series between Ocean Reef Sea Sports Club and HYC.

In division one, Bad Habits had established a commanding lead by the end of the first lap and sailed to the finish line on the easterly, recording a first and fastest by almost 7 minutes. For the followers, only a few pole lengths from the finish, it was a scramble to get the kite down and roll out the jib to sail to the line in the sea breeze. Perle was second with Scott Forrest’s etchell Whim A Way (ORSSC) third.

Caught between the two breezes, division two also struggled to fly their kites on the last leg and were forced to take them down and sail on the sea breeze. Venomous from ORSSC already ahead, was first to get the breeze and raced to the finish for a first and fastest ahead of Volant and Show Me. The first four boats were inside 1.45 on handicap in the eight boat fleet.

Catabatic made the most of the conditions that suited the little flyer and recorded a first and fastest in division three followed by Intuition and Resolute.

The course for Race 2 was reset for the sea breeze which had whipped up to 17 knots requiring more quick thinking at the start as boats jostled at speed. In division one the etchell led from the front to record fastest time however second over the line, Sophia was first on handicap, ahead of Whim A Way and Perle. Whispering Jack missed the skill of their regular foredeckie EG, electing not to launch a kite in either race but was competitive upwind to finish just outside the major placegetters.

Pinta’s much improved finish mid-fleet in division two resulted in a win for Ray Murphy ahead of Cockburn Sound Regatta Champion Boat, Farrouk and Blue Chip. Once again it was close racing with five boats inside 3.19 on handicap and Covert Operation pipping Farrouk, by just 12 seconds for fastest time.

Catabatic proved she can also handle the stronger winds to be fastest in division three but had to settle for second behind Resolute with Intuition third.

John Bird