We had 8 Sabres racing today at Maylands, the largest fleet on the day, with a handful of Lasers and two Mirrors also racing in combined single fleet starts. There were 4 visitors from EFYC who joined 4 MYC Sabres.
The format for winter is to set a windward and leeward mark only, with two laps through a mid course start/finish line, so the races are usually around 30 to 40 minutes each depending on wind strength. The wind gods were kind enough to send light 5 to 8 knots from the south/south east just before the 1pm start and the combined fleet got away to some good, close racing. The leading Sabres had some good tussles with the Lasers, Pete Coop (2057 – Back in Black) leading the Sabres home with Chris Holyday (2042 – C3) in second place.
Race 2 brought a steadier breeze from the south and some of the closest racing of the day. C3 got the jump at the start to narrowly lead Back in Black at the windward mark for the first time. Back in Black took over the lead downwind with Steve Knight (2064) and Pete Johnston (1930) gaining rapidly as the breeze filled in. Pete Coop was never headed after that, leaving Chris, Steve and Pete Johnston to fight out second place. Following some very close racing to the line, Steve Knight just headed Chris and Pete Johnston home.
Well done to Pete Coop (it must have been that fast boat polish you applied before the racing)! Thanks to all our visitors today, good close racing and good fellowship being the real winner on the day.
