The second race of the Club Marine Ocean Pointscore Series took place on Saturday, 28 September, with a competitive fleet of 22 entrants that included several TP52s and a mix of Double Handed and fully crewed boats. As the clock struck 1000hrs, the race began under the forecasted conditions of a moderate Easterly, predicting a fast, tight reach towards Botany Bay and a return on a reach. However, the reality unfolded quite differently, making for a challenging race.
A lighter-than-expected wind from the southeast greeted the fleet as they headed out of Sydney Heads, leading to tactical decisions that would shape the outcome of the race. Many boats found themselves tacking to the south to navigate past Vaucluse and Bondi, adding complexity to what was anticipated to be a straightforward course.
The first boat to charge out of the Heads was Virago (Robert Kelly), showing early promise. Unfortunately, technical issues forced her to retire from the race, leaving the door open for the chasing pack. Close behind were Zen (Shane Guanaria), Smuggler (Sebastian Bohm), Quest (Craig Neil), and First Light (Peter White), all jockeying for position as they approached the heads.
While some of the TP52s, opted to tack slightly further offshore near Vaucluse to catch stronger winds and avoid the confused seastate, Quest stayed closer to the cliffs along the shore. This decision proved decisive, with Quest’s inside track giving her the edge to overtake both Smuggler and Zen. By the time the fleet reached the bottom mark near Botany Bay, Quest was firmly in the lead, a position she would hold to the finish line, crossing at 12:50:15.
Though Zen stayed hot on Quest‘s heels, ultimately finishing just 28 seconds behind, Quest‘s tactical decision and steady handling secured her the win on IRC.
Only slightly further back in the fleet, About Time (Julian Farren-Price) made a strong push on the way back to Sydney, positioning herself between the TP52s and the rest of the fleet. Her impressive pace on the return leg earned her second place on IRC, rounding out the podium with Zen finishing third.
Despite the retirement of Virago, all remaining boats crossed the line safely, with Currawong (Kathy Veel) bringing up the rear in a respectable time of 15:26:43.
The tactical challenges of the day and the shifting winds made this race a true test of skill and decision-making, highlighting the fierce competition and camaraderie within the fleet. With Quest leading the charge and others like Zen and About Time showing strong performances, the Club Marine Ocean Pointscore series is shaping up to be a thrilling contest this season.
