The newest addition to the Port Macquarie Yacht Club Fleet, Larissa Trapeznikova’s “Ninja” emphatically announced her arrival in last Sunday’s river race “C”, from Settlement Point to  the Maria river. With a well earned victory in testing conditions Ninja was able to convert her last few “nearly but not quite” results to a top of podium finish, and second on the annual river pointscore on the back of the blistering speed shown in the first and second legs of the three leg race.   

In light winds of 5 – 7 knots Ninja started somewhat cautiously and temporarily dropped back to second last, before unleashing her bright yellow masthead spinnaker, under the supervision of Geoffrey Dean, former yacht Club member, back in town for a short sojourn. 

With a combination of crew work and high skill levels, Ninja passed the larger yachts in front of her, showing high level skills to end up second on the water at the Hibbard ferry crossing. 

The second leg (shortened to the Maria river turning mark) saw diabolical conditions, as the wind dropped out, and at various times blew from all points of the compass, often all within a two to three minute time span. Frustrated crews had to tack sails sometimes multiple times each minute. Somehow the diminutive Ninja handled these conditions and was second around the mark, behind Enticer, but ahead of the larger yachts behind.  Solar Coaster was next around the mark, followed by Cool Change with the 40 footer, Third Man,  having had little luck in the conditions, trailing the fleet. With the fickle breeze turning north east and building Solar Coaster and Cool Change chased hard on the return to Hibbard,  but were unable to chase down Ninja, which led both those yachts at Hibbard.

Once across the Hibbard ferry, the breeze increased to a very comfortable 12 – 14 knots from the North East. Having sailed hard from the Maria river to Hibbard, and with Enticer some 1500 meters in the lead, once across the Hibbard ferry cables, the larger Solar Coaster, then Cool Change overhauled Ninja before Settlement Point to finish in front of that yacht on the water. Third Man which had struggled in the fluky conditions at the Maria river was unable to make up lost ground finishing well back on the water. 

With Ninja’s crew wringing every ounce of speed from her it was unnecessary to wait for the handicapper to call the win, with the main interest being on the minor podiums, which were filled by the consistent Cool Change, with  Enticer, after suffering the vicissitudes at the Maria river as much or more as any other yacht taking line honours and third on handicap.