Lisa Blackwood Wins A Class Nationals

Unfortunately due to many and varied reasons the “Nationals” event saw numbers reduced to one fleet of 12. First up was the “Invitation” race. This was a great opportunity for the race organisers to refine the course and systems, it also gave the competitors time to tweak their yachts, familiarise themselves with the course under simulated race conditions without the full pressure of the event heats.  There was a twist in the deed of gift for the recipient/s of the “invitation”.  It was to be given to the highest placed,  excluding 1st 2nd 3rd from the main event.

The sun was shining, and the forecast had an estimated top of 25 deg C…The breeze was 3 to 7 knts and oscillating from the North/East to North, off shore and not the traditional direction.

It is what it is and the RO spread the markers/gates a bit wider to compensate for the oscillations. A lesson for budding RO’s.

The early leader was #91 (Blackwood) with some wins then #26 (Arland) registering some leading into lunch only a point either way.  Unfortunately #39 (Dill) suffered an early malfunction which put him down the leader board a little and he would be facing a massive climb up the leader board.

After lunch saw the emergence of #39 taking some wins along with #26 and #91 picking up some crumbs.   It was now game on between these three players.  With #05 (Norrie) showing consistency and patience, which is also a key in this game by picking off 4ths and 5ths etc, placing just out the podium. Should one of the leaders falter he was in the box seat to pounce.  How true that was to become later on in the series.

At the close of play on day one, even with #39 climbing the leader board with wins, #91 and #26 were still able to hang onto their positions at the top just a point separating them.

What a change in weather for the second day.  It had been raining during the night and there were still some rain fronts coming in, that would hopefully push through by the start of play.

We were just left with some light showers and a good solid northerly (parallel to the beach/ sailing control area) with 7 to 10 knts.

During the morning the leader board had #91, #26 and #39 consolidate their positions with  #05 again  ready to capitalise,  should a mistake be made by the leaders.

Late on in the pre-lunch session the breeze strengthened to gusts of 12 ish knts, this was marginal A suit conditions that required good boat control skills. What it did do, was to start a procession of rig damage and winch blow ups. One casualty of retirement was #26.  Now this made things interesting as #39 was still climbing up the leader board with some wins.

After lunch the breeze strengthened further, forcing more retirements into the mid afternoon session.  Leaving just 7 competitors and #91 consolidating top spot.

Now it was game on as #26 being retired, and accumulating some big points sliding down the leader board. #91 continuing to consolidate the number one position with a nice buffer. All at the same time #39 was marching up the points board with some good places and #05 now having a grasp on some “chocolates” with a podium finish.

And that is how they finished;

#1  Lisa Blackwood (#91)
#2  Brian Dill (#39)
#3  Warren Norrie  (#05)

Grand Master - Bob Whitehead (95)
Master - Tim Arland (26)

Thank you to the RO Alex Hayter and the officials for keeping the racing program and the Catering group for arranging the lunches.

Lisa Blackwood & her winning Sword (left), Brian Dill, Lisa Blackwood, Warren Norrie (right)