Three Race Sunday 13th December

The day began with a light south westerly which settles into a 12 knot southerly. There were some lovely wind lines running down the lake.
A good fleet of five boats headed out for a fine afternoon of racing.
As the clock counted down to the start it seemed as though the committee end of the start line was the preferred point. As lazy Bones lined up to start he was pushed upon by Slippery When Wet (SWW) and Alan Pursch on the Hobie 16. There was probably not enough rooms as SWW barged in to the line and led the fleet away. Another Toy and Tooth Fairy opted to start further down the line and all were soon away in a freshening southerly.
The fleet headed toward the sand and then tacked to the top mark, here Lazy Bones called an advantage on SWW and mnoved in front. It was lazy Bones at the top mark and leading the fleet well. Followed by SWW and the Tooth Fairy then Another Toy and Al' and Helen Pursch.

The run down saw the lead challenged but it was Lazy Bones again ahead at the bottom mark. As the lead three turned it was a race again to the top mark. Here all three boats were side by side as the crews worked hard to extract as much speed as possible from the boats. At the top mark it was Slipper When Wet, Lazy Bones and Tooth Fairy. Again the run to the bottom mark was close, this time SWW maintaining the lead and rounding the bottom mark to win the race.

As the clock ran down to the start of the second race the wind died. Then, with a minute to go the breeze returned, though this tiem from the SE. A 50 degree shift had turned the tacking course into a single work then run drag race. This race was now all about boat speed. SWW had spotted the wind shift and went to for a port start. Slipper When Wet led comfortably and headed to the top mark. It was now a run down wind, with boat speed the main objective the crews powered up the boats as much as possible and drove the boats deep in the gusts.

Again the work and return runs were fast and after the second lap it was SWW across first followed by the Tooth Fairy, Lazy Bones, Another Toy and Al and Helen.

Race three was a Starboard course with the fleet now rounding the course in the opposite direction. As the fleet now were all at the 'pin' it was an even start and now it was really about boat speed.

At the start both the Taipans SWW and the Tooth Fairy were recalled and had to restart. The allowed Lazy Bones to lead the fleet. Both the Taipans were in pursuit and as they reached the top mark it was SWW ahead of the Tooth Fairy and Lazy Bones following. With in 100m as the boats rounded the safety offset mark it was the Tooth fairy who gybed and led the run to the bottom mark. At the bottom mark SWW went the wrong way and allowed the tooth Fairy the lead, returning and rounding the mark now third behind Lazy Bones the race was truly on to the top mark. The three boats were side by side and going as fast as possible.

At the top mark it was SWW ahead of the tooth Fairy and lazy Bones with Another Toy following close behind. As the boats reached to the bottom mark and as the two Taipans raced each other it was the NACRA Lazt Bones which was closing in on the lead.

Again the boats rounded the bottom mark and worked to the top mark in a three lap race and again the three boats who had dominated the afternoon were again at each other. The final downwind run was again close and finally as the boats rounded the bottom mark it was SWW ahead of Lazy Bones. The tooth Fairy attempted a bold inside rounding at the bottom mark in an attempt to push under and past Lazy Bones. The Tooth Fairy snared the mark and as he untangled the mark from craft Lazy Bones headed for the finishing line.