Twilight Race: Whitsunday Sailing Club hosted a fleet of 15 yachts with 62 crew on board for a Wednesday featuring a light south easterly breeze with flat seas -- idyllic sailing conditions.
First away was Division Two, with Wide Load (Shannan Hart) timing their run to the starting line to perfection to take the Doyle Sails sponsored best start prize.
Once on course, the fleet soon established a normal racing pattern with Smooth Criminal (Iyas Shaheen) and QMS Ponyo (John Galloway) battling at the front. The other front runner, Bobby’s Girl (Mark Beale), made a slow start, but soon worked through the fleet into third place on the water.
These three boats established a four-minute lead over Reignition (Charles Wallis), Wide Load and Twister (Kevin Fogarty). Although QMS Ponyo crossed the finish 26 seconds ahead of Smooth Criminal, the corrected time results were reversed, with Smooth Criminals 32 seconds in front, and Bobby’s Girl in third.
Lighthorse (Dianne Forster) led the fleet away in Division Three, but Wobbly Boot (Craig Piccinelli) soon took control at the front, developing a five-minute lead.
A close battle between Rossgo (Greg Hammon) and Masquerade (Tom Vujasinovic) prevailed for most of the race, only for Masquerade to drop back toward the end.
Light conditions did not suit Aquatarius, dropping them back into a mid-fleet position while even the use of a spinnaker did not help Shiraz (John Cable).
Ultimately Norbert G (Ghigo Casalini), with a new mainsail sponsored by Portland Road, took the corrected win by five minutes over Rossgo and Lighthorse.
Races continue every Wednesday from 4:30pm, with limited crewing positions available. Those wishing to participate as crew need to be at the club by 2:30 pm (limited spots available).
Contributed with thanks to Ross Chisholm
The boats Norbert G and Smooth Criminal in the Whitsunday Sailing Club Twilight Race last week
