LAST weekend Port Macquarie Yacht Club staged its annual Charles Nichol trophy race to Camden Haven and back. Excellent conditions prevailed on both days with a strong and steady south easterly breeze and moderate sea. Seven boats lined up off Bird Rock on Saturday morning for the start of the first leg.
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Razzamatazz, Cool Change and Spray port tacked across the line to lead the fleet South into the stiffening SSE breeze.
Solar Coaster, Rock Lobster, Zig Zag and Splash followed in close succession.
Zig Zag and Razzamatazz soon forged to the lead.
All crews were eventually forced to tack to clear Tacking Point. Once clear it was back onto a close hauled port tack direct to the Camden Haven. Only smallest entry Spray needing an extra tack as wind and sea picked up in the late afternoon.
Razzamatazz edged out Zig Zag for the first leg line honours.
Solar Coaster came in next then Splash. Rock Lobster crossed ahead of Cool Change by the narrowest of margins. Spray made it two hours later.
After an evening enjoying the local hospitality crews set out on the return journey on Sunday morning. Similar conditions to Saturday prevailed.
This time it would be a swift run with the breeze back to Bird Rock. Razzamatazz, Spray and Cool Change stole the start from Solar Coaster, Rock Lobster, Zig Zag and Splash.
Spinnakers began to appear as Zig Zag led the way out to sea while Razzamatazz ran poled out toward Cathie in search of a favourable current.
Crews enjoyed a rollicking ride home with downwind flyer Zig Zag first to reach the Bird Rock finish line, followed by Razzamatazz, Splash, Cool Change and Solar Coaster. Spray trailed well back just ahead of Rock Lobster.
Les Boaden and Kevin Brown's veteran ocean racer Razzamatazz struck vintage form to take the trophy from Teddy Clausen's Cool Change and Peter Brown and Peter Young's Splash.
Eeven though the previous Sunday's race three was in a moderate, if fluky, southerly, there was quite a high attrition rate due to breakages.
The only two finishers of the five Catamarans were Frank O'Rourke on Return, who won on yardstick, and Grady McNee on Princess who was second.
Tony Kuhn on Stella broke a jib cleat, Jack Corthals on Harpic broke a tiller bar, and Jason McGlashin on Green Machine broke a gooseneck.
The handicap results were reversed, with Princess finishing ahead of Return.
