The Forster-Tuncurry Radio Yacht Club held it's annual grand prix weekend of racing for 10 rater class model yachts on the weekend of March 18-19 at the Racecourse Lake, Tuncurry.
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Although the weather prior to the event had been unfavourable, with strong winds and rain, it was decided to go ahead as several of the 19 entrants had travelled from as far as Queensland and Canberra to take part.
Saturday dawned grey and showery, but fortuitously conditions at the lake for the duration of racing were good, with just a couple of light showers and a fresh SE wind giving exciting conditions for racing.
SE is always a difficult wind direction for course setting, but PRO for the day, Rod Wilson and his assistants did a great job in providing fair and challenging courses.
By the close of the day's sailing at 4pm, 20 races had been sailed, with skippers able to drop their three worst results.
With excellent consistency, including six first places, the winner was Steve Sedgmen from Canberra, with 40.8 points.
Sailing a yacht of his own design, Steve repeated last year’s win in this event, and is also the current NSW champion.
In second place with 53 points was Greg Torpy from the Kawana Club in Queensland, followed by Phil Page from Northern Mariners on 61.6.
This event has been held for 27 years and Phil says he has been to all 27.
Best of the local skippers was a creditable result for Peter Burton, a close fourth on 64, with Craig Sargent sixth on 109.
Sunday was a different day, with heavy rain showers in the morning, and a 10-15 kt N-NE wind which eased during the morning.
With the number of starters reduced to 12, racing got under way, with Craig Sargent PRO, soon after 10am in unpleasant conditions, with heavy rain continuing.
By lunchtime, the state of the access track was such that it was feared vehicles would have difficulty in leaving, so a halt was called, before conditions deteriorated further.
As it was, several 4WDs had difficulty, and one car had to be towed out of mud.
Seven races were held with one discard, with last year's winner Mathew Mcanna from Kogarah Bay taking home the trophy with 21 points, from Greg Mence, Lake Macquarie, on 25 and Ben Taylor, also Lake Macquarie on 28.
The interclub event held in conjunction was won by Lake Macquarie, from Northern Mariners and Kogarah Bay.
In spite of the weather conditions, the event was judged a success, thanks mainly to the good racing conditions on Saturday.
FTRYC sails at the lake every Saturday, alternating between the 10 rater class and the recently introduced and fast-growing Dragonflite 95 class.
For information about the club, and the yacht's, and arrangements for a test sail, contact the secretary on 6555 6450.
