17 August 2022

NT Shade Sprint Series Day Four.

Last Sunday saw 30 boats on the water for the fourth day of the DSC NT Shade Sprint Series, with the sea breeze gracing the fleet halfway through race two, which was helpful for some and less so for others, but we were all happy to experience the breeze come in. A massive thank you to all the volunteers who coped so well with the big wind shift.

The Minnows second race was abandoned but eight Minnow skippers all showed great patience and determination to get around the course in tricky conditions. A big shout out to Tyler and Ollie who were super determined to keep racing.  Sea Monkey, Harrison Duignan won the day with two double wins on yardstick and performance handicap, and second place coming down to the wire with Y Knot, Leo Batenburg and Ozone, Fynn Goat battling it out on the course with a third and second each. Check out the day results here for the Minnows.

Crackerjack, Fiona McManus took out the day for the Tasers against Knot 2 Worry, Bernadeen Gibb. With the two registered A-class, there was a few more on the water, was a dead heat with Dynamite, Simon Cruickshank and Catsup, Graham Piggott.

Lasers again had a 16 strong fleet ahead of next week’s 2022 Oceanic Laser Masters Championships with the Radials competition heating up with three points separating the first three boats, with Prefrontalcortexless, James McGrath, winning on PHS and equal second point with Hall Laser, Claire Hall on seven points, just three points behind 1^st place Dogmatic, Aden McGrath.

Standard Rig first and second place was separated by only one point, with Lets Launch, Chris Batenburg first in front of Calmer Suture, Phil Toonson, and great to see the return of Toby Wharton, Theia to take out third place.

Overall on yardstick it all came down to two points, with great close racing across the Laser Fleet, with third place going to Calmer Suture, Phil Toonson 7 points, second place Dogmatix, Aden McGrath 8 points, and winner for the day Lets Launch, Chris Batenburg holding on to first place on  7 points. 

It was fabulous to see some close, passionate racing across the course with everyone having that boat to beat, and the improvement across fleet as we reach half way through the season.  Check out the whole NT Shades Sprint Series results which is shaping up for the series to be decided on the last day of racing on the 9 Oct 22.

Next club racing is on the 28 August 22, NT Surgery Club Race Series II, check out if you’re entered with the right sail number and all that fun stuff OTB here, and Div 1 – 4 here, and you can even see your handicaps too.

Don’t forget the Airpower DSC Regatta, which all races contribute to our DSC Championships on the 15 and 16 October, it would be fabulous to get some early registrations so we can make it an awesome regatta.

See you on the water

Deb Negus

Rear Commodore Sailing