Six Port Macquarie Yacht Club boats motor sailed out over a very lumpy bar to race off Bird Rock for the start of Sunday's race over the Long Ocean triangle course.
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Indian Pacific and Zig Zag led across the line from Enticer and Splash then Spray and High Flyer.
The first leg would be out to the seaward mark, through a confused sea and strong southerly setting current.
Crews sheeted sails in as they initially tacked north into the light east-nor-east breeze.
It would be a battle but Enticer eventually tacked out and round the easterly GPS mark minutes ahead of Zig Zag.
Indian Pacific made it around next just ahead of the diminutive High Flyer.
Splash trailed while Spray, attempting the short division two course, was swept South and withdrew from the contest.
The second leg proved easier going as Enticer and Zig Zag extended their lead as they reached to the north west.
Zig Zag's crew managed to set her kite where she gradually overhauled Enticer, but was only able to take the lead after gybing her kite round the northern mark.
Enticer's crew eventually raised her spinnaker but to no avail, with Zig Zag maintaining her handy lead to take the Bird Rock line honours.
However Andrew Walmsley's Enticer turned the tables on handicap with High Flyer third.
Indian Pacific finished well off the pace ahead of High Flyer, punching well above her weight, while Splash trailed the fleet.
Crews agreed that it was a different and challenging day at sea, with all yachts turning in longer than average elapsed times round the course.
An eight strong fleet contested PMYC's Australia Day Regatta on the river with Andrew Macleod's 2XS taking out the elapsed time and handicap double from Zig Zag and High Flyer.
Handicap Results Long Ocean Jan 28
Enticer 2:43:07 Zig Zag 2:56:08; High Flyer 3:01:06; Indian Pacific 3:21:17
Splash 3:28:41; Spray DNF
Handicap Results Australia Day Regatta Jan 26
2XS 1:05:00; Zig Zag 1:14:35; High Flyer 1:17:59; Rock Lobster 1:19:42; Raja 1:20:36; Splash 1:25:15; Solar Coaster 1:28:51; Spray 1:32:58
