MG14 Report – 3rd February 2018
PS14, CC5 (4th completed), LBS1 – Sat 3 Feb – S-SE 15-25 knots, SE course, big ebb tide, 10 starters …..
The predicted 15 knot SE blew a bit harder than forecast, especially as it went south later in the race, although it was quite variable and had a few holes. PEGASUS (Gary and Ross) and BLUES BROTHERS (Shannon and Claire) went south on port tack early and led the fleet clearly around Woolooware for the first time. However a big hole on eastern shore on work to mark 3 in Pelican Gut saw ELLA (Greg and Ari) lead around with TEMPEST (Stuart and Chris) just behind, with all 4 boats very close. BLUES BROTHERS had a long swim on a tack in Woolooware leaving the 3 leaders in very close racing and with frequent exciting moments and changes in positions. Meanwhile PHOENIX (Brian and Brendon) and BALLISTIC (Geoff and Axel) had a close battle all the way, with Axel surviving a very spectacular slip forward then fall back into the boat, without a capsize and all captured on video. At the finish it was ELLA narrowly from TEMPEST (and ELLA getting very very close to wrapping up CC series), with a gap to PEGASUS after a swim near the finish after the rudder cavitated 100% and when it gripped again we’d dug the bow down (all on video).
Handicap honours to JET STREAM (John and Amelia), from TEMPEST and HIGH CALIBRE (Lloyd and Michael).
In first round of Little & Browne Shield handicap knockout series, all the boats which started went through to round 2 except BLUES BROTHERS (knocked out by HIGH CALIBRE) and ELLA (knocked out by TEMPEST).
