With a grappling hook only, a pike and sword being unavailable, popular Port Macquarie Yacht Club sailor Basia Dworak was inducted into the mostly forgotten Order of the Pike Sword and Grappling Hook, in front of a small gathering of crew from Kookaburra 2 and Cool Change, onboard Kookaburra 2, prior to last Sunday’s Ocean buoy event. 

Usually reserved for flayers, and bludgeoners, Basia, who has sailed on several local yachts received the award in recognition of her ability to cut through and perform at a consistently high level on the various yachts she has sailed on. Vin petillant was consumed only in strict  moderation, with breath testing being considered unnecessary prior to the day’s competition.

The Ocean Buoy event was sailed around virtual marks on the infrequently sailed course 5, with yachts competing in two divisions, with division two sailing the longer course. With a steady breeze of around 10 knots from the North, Third Man crossed the startline in advance of Kookaburra 2 with Razzamataz 2 and Enticer in hot pursuit. Cool Change was in close contact, while Galene, sailing “In company”, and not officially racing, did not contest the start, but was very handy to all competing boats.

Half way down the first leg Enticer easily overtook Kookaburra 2, and remained clear ahead of the division 2 yachts until the finish. Kookaburra 2 was close behind at the first mark rounding while Razzamatazz 2 was a couple of boat lengths further back. Those two yachts were rarely more than a few boat lengths apart the whole race, with Kookaburra 2 coming from behind on a thrilling final leg of the race to just pip Razzamatazz 2 on the finish line.

The division one yachts saw Cool Change, after a safe start take charge early, and after overtaking Third Man, extend her lead over each leg of the course to take overall line honours, and finish well in front of all other yachts in both divisions.  

Unusually, the wind rage and direction remained fairly constant over the day and all crews experienced a brilliant day’s sailing, such that at the race conclusion most yachts elected to sail line astern across a relatively benign Port Macquarie bar, a somewhat rare event.

Fleet handicaps which take into account the differing distances sailed by the different divisions saw the division two boats fare best, with Kookaburra 2 taking the honours from Razzamatazz 2 with Enticer third, with Third Man flipping with line honours boat Cool Change, to take fourth with Cool Change fifth. 

Razzamatazz 2 still retains her Offshore pointscore lead from Cool Change second, with Third Man in third place. With less than half a dozen points separating the first three yachts the offshore championship remains anybody’s and will no doubt be fiercely contested over the remainder of the season.