Spring Race 2 Wind ESE-E-ENE, 8 to 14kts. Big tide run out.  Course 15 - with the white flag start for the mixed division.  What a spectacular day to be out on the water!

Thanks to the Beware of the Start Boat crew for a sterling effort.

In the Etchells, the indecision following the recent national election resulted in only 4 starters.  Serendipity took a close lead at the start into a freshening Easterly breeze and were first to round the top mark at Goat Island.  A slow spinnaker set dropped Serendipity into fourth place behind WGARA, Eggshells and Forte Forever.

WGARA opened a good lead downwind and was the first to round Snapper for the shy run to Spectacle.  They then opened up substantial lead down to Goat Buoy.  WGARA maintained their lead on the run down to islands again with a filling wind and the fleet becoming more closely bunched.

There was close racing on the final beat back up to goat and WGARA and Serendipity made a break on the others which were also extremely close.  after taking Serendipity on the run down was the first to round compass and lead into humbug.

WGARA was first to Compass and then had a tacking duel with Serendipity to the finish.  WGARA and Serendipity tacked to different sides of Humbug with Serendipity finally winning by 2 boat lengths, Eggshells were 3rd just ahead of Forte Forever.  WGARA were handicap winners from Eggshells and Serendipity.

In the mixed fleet the start saw the bulk of the fleet on starboard with Flair squeaking in just behind Soundtrack, Waterhound and Scorpio on port to just get across CavSav and get a good start.  Out of Africa emerged from behind the start boat and quickly made up ground on the others.  Soundtrack pulled away on the way the Goat, Waterhound were quick and arrived at the mark ahead of Out Of Africa leaving Flair and CavSav to arrive virtually together.  Scorpio also had a great run with excellent speed.  Waterhound headed for Ballast Point and with a slow spinnaker set left Flair, CavSav and Waterhound neck and neck on the run to the islands.

CavSav, Flair and Waterhound made it around Spectacle ahead and set off after Out of Africa and Soundtrack (which by this was near Sydney Heads).  Flair attempted to ditch the helmsman at Longnose Point which allowed Waterhound and CavSav to make a break.  I think Soundtrack had gone past at this point and were probably back down near Gladesville Bridge.  The falling breeze made for a relatively slow trip for the rest of us back to the islands and Scorpio managed to become part of the Drummoyne Hartley Fleet.

In the end Out of Bradbury made it back to the finish ahead of the fleet with Soundtrack again rounding Sow and Pigs before heading for the finish.  CavSav just pipped Waterhound for second by 10 seconds and in a race which should have been dominated by Soundtrack (scratch and handicap), handicap results went to Flair from Scorpio and Waterhound.

Next race is Spring Race 3 and Umzimkulu is the duty boat.

'All' Ultimo Lavoro' - strive for the highest