Season 2017-18 January Sydney Flying Squadron and elsewhere

While there was no racing in early January while the boats were in New Zealand, LCC had a couple of sails in the fresh summer North-easterlys out of Balmoral.

Joined in with the second last heat of the 16 foot skiff nationals, in a 28 knot N.easter, for a couple of wild spinnaker rides in big waves off Dobroyd Head, until the rudder broke, and we limped home with the mainsail down and half a rudder. Out of the water for 2 weeks while we repaired the rudder.

Back at the Squadron 28 January for 2 sprint races in a fresh second sail North -easter, last week before the NZ boats return.

4th February, SFS for 2 sprint races in a second-sail South easter. Sydney Sailmakers and Form Civil Contracting back at the SFS on return from NZ, where they were 2nd and 5th overall.

Puffy, shifty day (typical S-easterly), big shifts seeing both Sydney Sailmakers and Form Civil Contracting having swims on the 1st heat work to Point Piper, with LCC Asia Pacific leading around the mark and down the spinnaker run to Taylor Bay. On the work back to Shark Is. Sydney Sailmakers elected to go South of Shark Is. and the shifty breeze played into their hands, delivering a 200m lead at the top mark over LCC, Form Civil a similar margin further back, to finish in this order at the zoo.

Heat 2 , again shifty and puffy, the fleet tighter, with LCC again in the lead at Point Piper, closely followed by Sydney Sailmakers then Form Civil Contracting, in this order to the Taylor Bay mark.

Heading back to Shark Is. all tacked south along Bradleys Head electing for the South- passage past Shark Island to the top mark, LCC holding the lead to round clear for the run to the finish, with Sydney Sailmakers second and Form Civil Contracting third.

No sailing at SFS next week, an Interclub Sprint series at Abbotsford next Saturday.