2021 Mixed Race 1 - Manly to Sand Hills and around Mud

Mixed Race 1 was mixed by name and mixed by nature. Despite the threat of strong wind warnings earlier in the week, Saturday morning turned another glorious autumn day on Moreton Bay. With forecast 15 to 20 knot sou’westers, it was decided to do Course C anticlockwise – 31 nm in total with the fleet heading from the usual start line between Lockyer Light and Huybers Beacon across to the Sand Hills and then returning Jeay’s Reef before passing between Mud Island and St Helena Island and finishing at Lockyer Light.

Regular competitors Zero, Kestrel and Double Black Diamond were joined by The Lady Claire with Magic Shadow flying the trimaran flag. After missing the April Bay race due to COVID lockdowns, we were keen to get out on the water to christen our new main and jib in race conditions and a new crew member. After the start at 1:00pm screechers were set for the reach across to Sandhills.

Zero was leading the fleet, and a steady breeze greeted the fleet as we headed north east across the bay. New crew member Chris enjoyed a champagne start to multihull sailing as we set the screecher and set off after Zero with boat speed between 13 to 15 knots during the first half of the leg. About two thirds of the way to the Sandhills the breeze had swung around behind us, and with our boat speed back to single digits and Kestrel catching up fast we furled the screecher and set the kite. Soon we were back sitting on 12 to 14 knots and with Chris having a lesson in kite trimming. The breeze was building slightly at this stage and as we briefly clocked 16 knots the port side kite sheet snapped at the turning block! Chris sheepishly asked “did I do something wrong?” “I think you must have pulled on it too hard” was my reply as we retrieved the kite and redeployed the screecher. At the special purpose mark at Sandhills Kestrel was only a couple of minutes behind. We were able to carry the screecher across to Jeay’s Reef maintaining 12 to 13 knots of boat speed for most of this leg. As we rounded the Jeay’s Reef the screecher was furled and jib hoisted for the upwind leg down the inside of Mud Island.

To Read more see the 2021 June Multinews