It looks like many yacht clubs around the country were busy over Easter with their respective regattas, and Lake Bonney at Barmera in South Australia was no exception. Over 30 boats competed in the 5 race regatta, held on Saturday and Sunday. 12 Mozzies were present on the water, showing the strength of the class at the club which currently has 9 Mosquito’s in its fleet, and more planned for next season.
The opening race on Saturday was a perfect start to Easter, 32deg. and a light easterly breeze, variable in direction but sufficient to complete the planned two races. Chris Stevens on “Eni Screw’l Do” (formerly Loose Screws) took line honours in race 1, beating young Beau DeLaine on “Two Obsessed” over the line by the thickness of a fore stay, closely followed by Steve Thomas on “Just Do It”. By race 2, the visitors had got their ship together, with Gary Johnstone on “Touch n Go” taking the lead from Beau and 3rd place going to “Natural Progression”, sailed by Peter Dunk and Kirsten Thomas. Young Pete showed the fleet what his new Alegayter sail could do, only finishing sewing it 2 days before the race.
Sunday morning and race 3 produced the breeze we had all been wishing for, with Gary and Beau having an identical 1-2 tussle over the finish line, while Chris Stevens settled for third. After lunch the conditions worked into absolute perfection, 15 -18 knots from the East with an occasional gust to 20 under clear skies and 30 deg. Races 4 and 5 consisted of 4 laps of a basic triangle course, a short beat to windward, a short run followed by a screaming reach to the bottom mark and do it all again. Hanging off the wire on a spray-filled reach with the windward hull just clear of flat water has to be one of life’s greatest pleasures..
The starts were interesting, with the angle favouring a port hand start for those that were game. Some had a shot and got away successfully, while others went OCS and some even got in irons on the line just to add to the mayhem.
Race 4 saw Gary again finding the finish line first, with Beau in hot pursuit and Mark Pfennig on “Nebuchadnezzar” a well earned third.
Race 5 saw Chris Stevens regain his position at the front of the fleet, giving Gary a turn at 2nd. and Beau in 3rd. place.
Final results:-
Mark I; 1st. Gary Johnstone, 2nd. Beau DeLaine(by 1 point), 3rd. Steve Thomas.
Mark II; 1st. Peter Dunk and Kirsten Thomas, 2nd. Ian Hughes and crew, 3rd. David Dunk and Jamie
A special commendation to the visiting Mossie sailors, Gary Johnstone and Tim Kennedy from Lake Boga, Roy Douglas from Adelaide and Ian Hughes.
All in all, a top weekend, even with the capsizes, crews overboard, pitchpoles and helmsman leaving the boat unintentionally..
