The dreaded easterlies were the order of the day at Jackadder Lake, Woodlands, on November 8th. Having the winds directly onshore between 5 and 8 knots, PRO Bruce Quail set an out and return course using an ‘outside in’ top gate and regular ‘inside out’ bottom gate. This allowed a reasonable spread of boats at the top mark as it would have been difficult for both skippers and observers to overcome congestion caused collisions at the windward mark. As it turned out, all sailors played by the rules and an early lunch was called when it looked like the forecast wind swing to the southwest was imminent. The wind reluctantly stayed east to southeast until early afternoon when the sea breeze finally won the day and a normal course was laid but that also brought a reminder of the fickle nature of Jackadder winds!

Acknowledgement and thanks to Dave and June Odlum for organising the day and laying on a superb wrap lunch with plenty of water and cold drinks, to Lloyd for boatman duties and the scoring/race committee team of David, Mark, Hunter plus help from many other volunteers like Tim, Barry, Ron. A good turnout of 20 boats, with representation from NSW and Tasmania, managed to fit in 9 races in HMS format. Nick Jerwood from Wanderers was a clear winner from Andrew Donkin of Austin Lakes and Steven Findlay from NSW in third. Thanks also to City of Stirling Councillor, Elizabeth Re, who has been a long time supporter of the club and who donated prizes for the event, plus to local photographer Amy Meagher who provided most of the below photos.