Another great day in the harbour and many thanks to Captain Alan Gray who gave us valuable harbour time to run the race. Racing with a west sou westerly of about 10 to 12 knots it was admirably suited to the boats running spinnakers on a pole as they could literally go straight down the harbour.

Match racing SS34’s. Never been done before ? Well any day on the river my friends, but today we had two old foes from Royal Perth, Huckleberry and Swagman battling it out on the water and neither gave an inch all the way... right to the finish. Unfortunately they both forgot to pass the former turning mark at the top of the course on the way up to the final top mark for the down wind dash to the line. Not only was it bragging rights, but it was for fastest on the day and a glance at the RO, sadly shaking his head, was enough to tell me what I thought had happened. Oh well. These things do happen and John Palmer with Witchy Woman grabbed the win and smiled all the way back to the yacht club.

A dashing start from Argo helmed by Conor Nicholas had us all holding our breath as he nailed the line with the kite already up and running and he ended in just as spectacular manner with a run down from the top mark to sneak inside Denis Vincent’s Wyuna at the last 5 meters, earning another round of cheers from the crowd. Other wise there was another race within a race as the SB20’s were out in force and loaded up with every young gun they could lay hands on. Guys and Gals, it didn’t matter and the racing was pretty frenetic on the asymmetric runs down the river with Matt Wearne being challenged by everyone and Chris Charlwood ended up grabbing the cake from a fast finishing Nia Jerwood, no slouch herself. But back to the big boats and Weapon of Choice was set on breaking his own record as being the 2nd fastest boat on the river set last year and with Billy Leonard running the crew, all Mark Nagle had to do was point the boat. Not that Wasabi or MX were slow, oh no. But WoC had something to prove. Well sailed to Joss, The Cro Connection, Circa and Soon with Endorfin and the Longboat deserving of honourable mentions. The sole Etchell in the race Hustler, must be practising for the worlds coming up next year, perhaps he needed another one or two to compete against.

But my heart went out to Morgan Flower driving Émigré, a Duncanson 35, with a crew of youngsters, he was there because Travis said so and despite all his troubles and effort he started first and finished last. But he can now say he did it. And I’ll bet he’ll come back next year if they ask him.