Race Three of the 2021 Valmadre Offshore Winter Series held out of Fremantle Sailing Club was run last weekend in relatively benign conditions. Only 16 of the 30 entries made it out onto the water for the 25NM race. Race Officer Cameron Berg and the Offshore Race Team had a tough decision with the prevailing shifty conditions. Settling on Course 5 the crews started in a very conservative manner with no one anywhere near the start line.

The mostly Westerly 10-15 knots of breeze tended into the Southwest with blasts of 20-25 knots expediting the fleet around the course at an unexpected speed. The Race Team were hunkered down after RO Berg got wet on the fly bridge of the start boat. Sacrilege! I know right. It was in stark contrast Race 2 where only five yachts finished in the benign conditions.

PHS Handicap Results: Division 1: John Rayner ‘Al Fresco’ beat Peter Chappell ‘The Cadillac’ with Noel Murphy ‘Southern Star’ coming in third. Division 2: Sean Wallis and Simon Cunningham ‘Skallagrigg’ held out Simon Plunkett ‘Terra’ with Dennis Vincent and Hilary Arthure ‘Wyuna’ in third.

IRC Handicap Results: Division 1: ‘The Cadillac’ although finishing almost 20 minutes behind Andrew Nuttman and Anthony Kirke’s new ‘Enterprise Next Generation’, took the win on corrected time by just over three and a half minutes. ‘Al Fresco’ a solid 10 minutes further back in third. Division 2: ‘Terra’ took home the first pennant by just seven seconds over ‘Skallagrigg’ with ‘Wyuna’ in third.

Next weekend the FSC will host their 2020/21 Offshore Summer Series and 2021 Winter Series Presentation Night from 5:30pm in the Wardroom. Visit fsc.com.au for all the details.