PORT Macquarie Yacht Club’s Annual Offshore Regatta was postponed due to difficult conditions, so crews made do with the Long Ocean Race on Sunday.
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Nine yachts traversed the choppy bar to rendezvous off Bird Rock.
Cavalier Express, J Force, Zig Zag and Spray led the closely-bunched fleet over the start line and into the stiff ESE breeze and sea.
Cool Change, Splash, Solar Coaster, Kookaburra II and High Flyer followed.
Crews sheeted sails in for the close hauled slog out to sea on a starboard tack.
With the south setting current countering their leeway to a degree crews would still need to tack south to round the Eastern turning points of the triangular courses.
High Flyer was first to turn, leading Cool Change into the second leg of the shorter division one course, while Cavalier Express pressed on to lead the division two fleet out to sea and into the second leg of the long triangle.
Once around the GPS mark and with the breeze now astern crews could set up for a swift run up to the next mark. Zig Zag with her spinnaker driving her overtook Cavalier Express.
J Force and Kookaburra II battled it out in their wake. Solar Coaster and Splash trailed.
Once into the final leg crews would enjoy a rollicking close reach back to the Bird Rock finish.
Zig Zag retained her lead to take division two line honours from Cavalier Express while Kookaburra II held off J Force for third.
Meanwhile High Flyer led Cool Change home over the short course. Spray trailed way back.
When handicaps were applied Ron and Jill Sargeant's Cavalier Express came out on top from Adrian Duvenet's Kookaburra II and Teddy Clausen's Cool Change.
Handicap Results Long Ocean Oct 15
Cavalier Express 2:09:09; Kookaburra II 2:10:23; Cool Change 2:10:46; Zig Zag 2:15:04; High Flyer 2:16:43; Solar Coaster 2:17:27; J Force 2:29:39; Splash 2:25:32; Spray 2:43:17
Handicap Results Twilight Oct 12
Razzamatazz 0:45:25; Zig Zag 0:46:42; Kookaburra 0:49:03; High Flyer 0:56:02 0:50:06