Conditions couldn’t have been much different for sailing over the weekend of 8th and 9th January. Saturday saw the third running of the Derek Despy Medal Race Series with consistent moderate south westerly winds of 10-14 knots on a low to rising tide. Rob McNair as OD set a triangular course off the club beach in the morning, giving us two races before lunch. For the afternoon, the course was modified to include a dogleg at the top mark and all boats completed 4 laps. The wind had picked up slightly requiring concentration for the fast gybes and tacks around the marks. Great sailing and most of us stayed upright!
The Derek Despy Medal is based on a Back Calculated Yardstick, so it really is anyone’s to win. Results were 1st Place: Shaun; 2nd place: Wayne; 3rd place: Craig & Simon
Thanks to Rob as OD, Stacey and Linda in the tower, Jenny and Nancy in the galley, Geoffrey and of course Mr Derek Despy on point in the rescue boat.
Sunday’s Tarwin Marathon promised wind and sunshine, but ultimately could not deliver resulting in a frustrating sail against the current to the return mark in low water. Many of us had to jump out over one particular sandbank, the weed constantly grabbed at dagger boards and rudders as we fought our way up river and the wind periodically teased then disappeared. And we even stuck to the rules of staying in the channel which had clearly ignored the memo about running between the navigational buoys! Happily, the run back was more fluid with first cat back in around 2 hours and last dinghy in 3 1/2 hours (visitors Melinda and Adam from Mordialloc SC who want to come back for more). Next year we will consult the tide tables and perform a wind dance prior to the event!
The winner of this years event and his first time since the late 90’s was Matt – Congratulations!
Thanks to Jenny and Linda in the galley, John and Elizabeth in the tower, OD Noel and Derek and Neil for the rescue boat. Thanks too to Rob and Christine in the rubber ducky and our local SES for monitoring at the return mark. And yes, they made me do a 360 when I drifted back onto the buoy!
Photos from Derek Despy Medal races and Tarwin Marathon. Click on image to open.
