28th March 2026
Post Xmas Comp. Race #8
Season Final.

Results
Photos

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Clarence River Sailing Club
Saturday 28th March 2026
Post Xmas Comp. Race #8
Season Final

Crews enjoyed magnificent conditions for the final event of the 2025-26 sailing season. Although shifty at first, the determined south easterly gradually filled in. By the second lap it was blowing a steady 8 to 10 knots with brief gusts of around 14. Combined with the glorious autumn weather and brilliant sunshine, conditions were near perfect. The race start was pushed back to 3.00 pm and with the best of the breeze happening later in the afternoon, this worked out superbly.

Race official Dennis Boyd set another great course. Delivering fast off-wind sprints mixed equally with demanding upwind works it exhilarated and challenged everyone in the fleet. Departing from the usual mid race loop, crews steered a roughly boomerang shaped track with the apex east of Susan Island and leeward marks on the southern and northern sides. A solid three laps were sailed with most crews completing the distance in just over an hour. A remarkably quick time for a race of this length.

Viper 16 skipper Peter Walker took out line honours in the Catamaran Division. Sailing his high performance craft single-handed is a considerable undertaking, but even more so when flying a spinnaker as well. A great display of controlled sailing and a well deserved win. Despite crossing the finish nine minutes ahead of his nearest rival, Peter’s overall position remained on hold until yardsticks were calculated. With a punishing yardstick of 67.5 it was a tough call, but on this occasion the numbers came back perfectly - awarding him the prize with a margin of just three seconds. It doesn’t get much closer than that. Just missing the prize but happy with second, Hobie 18 crew Lindsay Cowan and Tansie Higgins put in a top performance and were so close it didn't matter. Third place went to Mosquito crew Greg Lee and Deb Michell followed by Nacra skipper Ben Higgins.

It was all Lasers again in the Mono Division. John Nelson took the prize this week after a tight contest with Peter Zietsch. Getting away to a near perfect start John dominated the fleet in the early stages before Peter was able to haul him in on the upwind leg of lap #1. Finding favourable lifts along the northern bank Peter was to carve out a comfortable lead before John clawed back the advantage at exactly the same point in lap #2. Only twenty seconds separated the two at the finish. Deb Parkin took out third place. Had the breeze been just a fraction stronger, it may well have been Deb's race.

See the Club’s website for more results.

Full results, photos and more details are on our website. https://crsc.yachting.org.au

A big thanks to race official Bob Fish and boat driver / photographer Dennis Boyd.

Sailing is now in recess for the winter break and will resume on Saturday 5th September 2026. Watch this space.

Results

Recorded Time	Elapsed Time	YS	YS Cr'd Time	Class	Skipper	Crew	Sail No

Monos	3 laps
01:09:37	01:05:37	114.0	00:57:34	Laser	J Nelson		175287
01:10:02	01:06:02	114.0	00:57:55	Laser	P Zietsch		143427
01:13:00	01:09:00	118.5	00:58:14	Laser Radial	D Parkin		176906


Cats	3 laps different course
01:09:34	01:06:34	67.5	01:38:37	Viper	P Walker		521
01:18:29	01:15:29	76.5	01:38:40	Hobie 18	L Cowan	T Higgins	44
01:26:10	01:23:10	78	01:46:37	Mosquito	G Lee	D Michell	1833
01:33:38	01:30:38	78	01:56:12	Nacra 16 Sq	B Higgins		69

28/03/2026
Bob Fish officiating, Dennis Boyd rescue boat, photos and course duties