Teddy Bear Picnic wins the first race of the season

The first race of the Townsville yacht racing season was a Round Magnetic Island Race and was held on Saturday. The forecast breeze was between 10 and 15 knots and was generally from the north. The race began with the usual pressure on the start line, but there were no incidents. Farrago and TBP stayed on a starboard tack to reach the island as quickly as possible, hoping to gain the increased wind speed and lift that can generally be found there. Other boats tacked over towards Cape Cleveland and then came into the island. TBP reached Orchard Rocks in good position leading other four boats. Along the north of the island, the yachts carried spinnakers. It was very hot and the breeze was light and variable. Past West Point boats sailed carefully through the shallows, and TBP held the ten foot depth line, with boats behind doing the same. Two boats, Come-By-Chance and The Major took a course along the island’s edge, opposite Pallarenda, getting a good breeze there. TBP was not worried at this stage and held a direct course to the finish line, believing that once those boats came down to course they would lose breeze and boat speed. Surprisingly, this did not happen and they sped past TBP to finish ahead. Near the finish line, TBP lost a spinnaker sheet and limped across the line under the main sail alone. Despite all this, TBP came first on handicap. “The handicap system is a wonderful thing” the skipper of TBP, Owen Stanley, was heard to say to yachts men and women at the club, celebrating the first race of the season.

Owen Stanley