RESULTS

Saturday 19 January 2008

Windward/Leeward Course

The first official sailing day at Emerald Lakes for 2008 saw a number of visitors join us. Five 10r skippers set their own course off the beach and enjoyed SE and NE shifts that kept them entertained for the afternoon. Each of the skippers raved about the location and wind pressure.

The IOM fleet ( B rig) set off around the point to sail a windward/leeward  course with a gate at the bottom mark, unfortunately the breeze occasionally shifted toward the NE during the afternoon and the port rounding mark was not always the correct option. Nevertheless, everyone enjoyed the change from the same old triangle/sausage format. Ralph, our new-to-the-sport member still has a smile on his face as he learns all the vagaries of batteries, winches, rudder servos and what happens when one won’t talk to the others, his sailing improves each time he hits the water. Brad arrived sporting a new Cockatoo 8? and had it at the pointy end of the fleet right from the start.  Ben returned after competing (& winning) in the “Surf to City” yacht race in a sport boat which apparently looks like an 18’ skiff on steroids!. Alan & Richard were lamenting on the rollercoaster ride better known as the Nationals, but showed that just competing in such events, improves your sailing skills.

As you will see on our sailing programme for this year, we have introduced a number of new formats, windward/leeward, match racing, passage races, long course and Olympic course.