Thrills and spills on Maylandsea Bay

Fifteen boats hit the start line on a day that saw waves and cubic whammies sorting the men from the men.
The start was won by Mickey Wright sailing a Laser. This was a short hop to the Spit nav can, a jibe and a long down hill run out to Mundon spit which was a joy to see as many of the fleet had not seen a squall or had a knee tremble for weeks.
A measure of care was required as the fleet speed outwards, passed Lawling point and into the full thwack of the incoming tide. As the leg, somewhat sailed by the lee to this point eventually led to jibe on. Roger and Edward, in a Fireball, opened up the entries to the Splat The Duck completion (and a very worthy, well executed Splat it was).
. . . . . . picture right: Kevin "I capsized to get out of the rain"

The fleet now turning Mundon mark and into the wind was well spread out and despite the horizontal wind driven rain sorted a well bang on the nose beat to Lawling mark. Jacko and Lorna lost ground to Kevin and? (Fireball) and Keith Fedi, sailing a Finn, as the fleet took on the shifty squalls and rare to see, the Maylandsea wave. (Jacko was seen to be waving at Roger, who was still with the fishes, but Rogers joyful response cannot be divulged). Race ended Jacko and Lorna, Kevin and? With Keith 3rd. Tea and sausages were consumed, mud removed and the full fleet took off down the slip like nobody knew it was windy. Jacko and Lorna won the start, hung to the marina side and popped in an elegant jibe, followed by upping the kite and were not seen again. Roger and Edward, much encouraged with being less wet, took up the challenge. Sadly being slatted on the nasty headers bounding out of the marina pontoons at the end of the first lap. Ron and Laura having put a good solid performance together in race one went for the “wish I don’t wish” could have been! Wet mascara “is that a fish you’re holding” splat jibe. But recovered better than Jacko would have, stayed the course and finished 4th.
Keith (who it must be said was not having the best of days) got a good start, travelled the down hill well and made a good gain on Jacko on rounding Mundon Spit catching a good lift, lost the race by the narrowest of margins to be second. picture left: Keith loving his return to Maylandsea Bay Unfortunately the rumour has it that a slight wrong order of mark rounding has ended a tough day at the office. It is my view that we need finishers, all the marks were rounded and no short measure was gained. Kevin in the Fireball (who had been hiding away in the Sandhopper fleet) made light of the first race and handed out loads of stick to Lorna’s plea for “just one lap please” spent time with the fishes, along with a number of welcome returning visitors. Of which I would like to thank, on behalf of MBSC, for their support in filling the water and adding joy to the occasion only out done by the laughter from the Sandhopper gentry as they summed up the sailing capabilities of the club dinghy fleet. I would add, “you have seen nothing yet, chaps” now read on dit dit dit

picture below: Peter reefed, and staying in the boat

Next race 11/11/07 at 11:00 Full results to follow