Regatta Results - 06/03/2016
With the temperature nudging 40°C on Sunday, several Pennant sailors took advantage of the lack of wind to park their boats and slip into the water for a cool-off while waiting at the start line. The race began in almost windless conditions, with six of the nine starters led by junior sailor Cam Marcroft heading left on starboard tack from the line and the other three preferring the right side of the course.
The smaller group, led by Cam’s father Steve, soon found themselves disadvantaged when the southerly breeze freshened on the other side of the course and had an agonising wait for wind while the rest of the fleet disappeared in the distance.
In-form skipper Jan Ibs von Seht managed to reel in the young Marcroft by the first mark, the pair holding off George Grellet lurking in third until Ross Bennett managed to work his way past all three over the middle stages of the race. Ibs von Seht maintained close contact with the skilful Bennett over the remaining four legs, but was unable to regain the lead and crossed the line 40 seconds in arrears. Cam Marcroft sailed on well to be third over the line, just ahead of his fast-finishing father for the first time ever. This was a very commendable effort, as Cam has been sailing his Laser for only a season.
The winning margin was insufficient to reward Bennett with a handicap win, which went to Ibs von Seht. Bennett was relegated to second ahead of George Grellet third. Peter Knight, although hampered by a bee sting mid-race was never a threat, and Leigh Edwards with Mark Knights crewing on the trailer sailor found the breeze too gentle for their liking. Horsham-based Laser skipper and new member Richard Bales finished down the order, but attracted the eye of the judges for the annual Titanic award by scoring more capsizes in one day than anyone else for the whole season.
A short trophy race was held later in the day, and in a freshening breeze Ibs von Seht took line honours in a tight finish ahead of Steve Marcroft and Peter Knight, but the glassware was claimed by Leigh Edwards who pipped Knight by just 6 seconds on corrected time.
In other club news, several members took part with great success in the regional regatta at Rivoli Bay (SA) on the previous weekend. Expat South Australian Andrew Pearce won the monohull division on countback after finishing the series on equal points with Steve Marcroft, and the minor placings were filled by Mark Knights, Johno Knight and Jan Ibs von Seht. Cam Marcroft sailed well against strong opposition to achieve second place in the junior division.