Change on the breeze

Karl Cooksley carefully balancing his Laser on a fast downwind run in Saturday’s race.

CONTRIBUTED

IT IS often said that if you can sail well in Grafton you can sail well anywhere.

The sweeping bend in the river, the high banks dotted with buildings and trees and the bridge all combine to bend and shape the wind in a dazzling range of directions and strengths to challenge even the most experienced of skippers.

Racing in Saturday's club event proved no exception, with crews battling a constantly oscillating easterly breeze but enjoying some great sailing along the way.

A standard course was set, with a loop on the leeward end that provided two fast reaching legs and gybes on each lap.

As racing got under way in a brisk 10-knot breeze a number of sailors found themselves concentrated in a small space at the far end of the line, resulting in some close calls as crews competed for clear air.

Timing his start perfectly, Neale Carter quickly accelerated his Laser to the front of the fleet, with Karl Cooksley in pursuit.

This set the pattern for the rest of the race, with the two skippers never more than a few metres apart and eagerly anticipating the next wind shift to take the advantage.

However, Carter's fast downwind runs and smooth mark roundings gave him just enough edge, allowing him to cross the line 10 seconds ahead of his rival.

"I thought I had him a few times" Cooksley said, "but each time I closed the gap he'd find another lift and get away again."

Just astern, Peter Zietsch and Peter Bond also had a tough race, finishing third and fourth respectively.

Separating on the windward legs, then reconverging downwind, the skippers had some tight mark roundings, with only millimetres separating their boats.

Debbie Parkin and Tony Smith, sailing Laser Radials, pushed each other hard in the early stages, until an equipment failure forced Smith ashore for repairs.

Sailing at the Clarence River Sailing Club starts about 1pm every Saturday next to the Grafton Bridge.

Club boats are available for people who are interested in joining the sailing club and getting into sailing.

For more information, visit www.crsc.yachting.org.au.

Each time I closed the gap he'd find another lift and get away