(Report by Tim Duguid)
Sunday provided very pleasant sailing conditions for the annual Ron Weston event. A nice steady NE breeze of about eight knots coming in over the dam wall had nine boats on the start line with five Hunters , 'Dynamite' (of dubious pedigree), a Soling , a L26 and a Dart taking part. Race Officer Roy Shooter chose the usual first leg for the wind direction with the course to No 1(Quantum Sails), then right down to the bottom end of Ashley Bay , around the headland in to Thurlow Bay, around to Orient Bay, then to No 4 (Amanzi Water), on to No 6(Build It) and back to the jetty for the finish.
Race Officer Roy started promptly with a few boats still trying to rig and slip, making it an additional challenge for them to catch the starting members of the fleet. Knip, the L26 , and the Soling had good starts but Knip was OCS in
her eagerness to get going. Anton Ellens, with Vaughan and the gang on board Dynamite, took advantage of conditions and course and led from start to finish with Alan Barr on his Dart close behind.
Anthony Macmillan, making a return to his Hunter sailing, took Picannin out for the day. From starting about a minute late, he came from behind to be the first Hunter around No1.The Hunter fleet was dominated by Essex and Picannin.These two also constantly swapped positions. Unfortunately, Picannin had not rigged their bag at the start of the race, so this saw Essex get away until Picannin got their bag up to catch up very well again. Sailing back up Ashley, Essex decided to swap crew and skipper, putting Paul in the unfamiliar position as crew. Piccanin enjoyed a lift inside Essex and took the lead but was then caught up in the tussle between the Soling and L26, allowing Essex to sneak through again. Essex was constantly pushed by Piccanin, but managed to hold on to her lead to the finish. Nice to see
Rose and Jay on the water again, and Commodore Richard Solomon doing a 'Bertie Reed' and sailing well to beat the girls.
A wonderful duel took place between the Soling, with Keith Gearson at the helm, and the l26 of Georg ,Jenny and Clive with Tommy's sons on board.They constantly swapped positions throughout the entire race.
As Georg said; "It was far from a relaxing fun race, but a great race all the same."
Line honours went to : 1.Dynamite 2. Dart 3.Soling 4. L26
Boat handicaps saw the Hunters lead; 1.Essex 2. Picannin 3. Knip
A great day's sailing.Thanks to Roy Shooter for doing the duties.
Next up is Club Champs #5 incorporating the Monthly Mug and Hunter George Duffin series on Sunday 5 November.This is the last chance of practice before Hunter Provincials, so try and make it onto the water.
Speaking of HUNTER PROVS.......GET THOSE ENTRIES IN.
Entered to date: Essex Girl, Odin's Eye, Flirt, Knip, Picannin, Baby Blue, Hybrid Theory, Bad News.
That only makes eight !!! Come on guys, we normally have at least seventeen entries.
PLEASE COME AND GET THOSE NUMBERS UP.
SAILORS FROM DURBAN:JOIN IN. WE NEED TO KEEP THIS A WELL-ATTENDED HUNTER REGATTA.
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