Sailing Report - 12/1/08. Bay Cup 6 - CORRECTED

Batemans Bay Sailing Club held the 6th Bay Cup Race of the season on 12/1/08. A great fleet of 15 Batemans Bay Sailing Club yachts plus the visiting yacht “Public Nuisance” made it to the start line. Persistently overcast conditions meant that the sea breeze was very late to come in. This left race officer Peter Connell with no choice but to postpone the race. After a delay of about 30 minutes the fleet got away in a sub 5 knot easterly which eventually faded to nothing. “Moon Mist” started prematurely which cost them a result. There was really no need to hurry. Time passed slowly as the fleet sat around becalmed half way up the first leg from Snapper Island to Yellow Rock. Eventually a light south easterly came in. This benefited the yachts on the right hand side of the course as the breeze got to them first. The second leg was a close reach to the Toll Gates mark. Mercifully the race was shortened to finish there – it had taken nearly two hours to cover two legs.

The winner on performance handicap was “Leda II” skippered by veteran wooden boat fancier John Boyes. Second was “Sandpiper” whose policy was set forward by retired treasury economist Roger Freney. Third was “Fractious”, owned by Tim Devlin but steered on this occasion by current Australian Spiral Champion Matt Craig (not Graham “Butch” Johnston as previously posted). On IRC victory went to “Periwinkle” (Robin Davey/Tony Sutton) – a result which makes the club championship series very tight indeed. Second was “Leda II” and third “Sandpiper”. Line honours went to “Black Velvet” (Matty and Peter Walsh) – an outstanding effort in conditions which did not suit the boat at all.