SUNDANCE MORETON BAY RACE

It was an early rise for the crews for the first race of the Sundance trophy 5 am saw the sun rising the wind was all ready blowing at 10-15 knots from the south not the best direction for a 43 nautical mile beat to windward but the day was going to get much worse.
We had four starters at 0630 First to cross the start line was Sundance followed by a touch of class.
Sundance        helmed by    Keith Baker
Encore            helmed by    Bruce Moore
Touch of class helmed by    Frank Paerce
Chagal            helmed by    Steve  Wakeley

By the time we had arrived at  the fairway channel buoy  the wind had increased to 23 knots this was a real task  to round the buoy due to a very large swell. First was Encore followed very closely by a Touch of class having the best start to a race this year then  Sundance and Chagal after rounding the bouy  we had an easier reach of the wind to the second mark off Caloundra by this time the wind had now increased to around 25 knots thankfully we had a much calmer sea as we had more protection from Bribie island now for the long 28 mile beat to wind ward down to the tip of Bribie and the start of Moerton Bay.

A touch of class was really having the race of his life due to a recent hull clean  and keeping hold of the club HOOKER so as no one else could clean there boats and have the same advantage, (nice work frank ).
I am sure Bruce on encore had a bad pain in his neck checking on touch of class as he was giving the much larger yacht Encore on his toes and a run for his money the wind had now reached 28 knots at the next turn and by the time we had reached the finish we had a brief encounter of 37 knots , the crew of sundance witnessed a 35 foot catamaran  flip over in the very strong breeze of bribie thankfully there were no casualties and all were taken off safely.
After a  very hard race first to cross the line was Encore then a Touch of class then Sundance , Chagal had suffered a problem with his motor and returned too Mooloolaba the same day arriving at 9pm well done Steve.

RESULTS   After a very long race of nearly eight hours the handicaps were quite amazing only fifteen minuets was between the first and second place boat , and five minuets seperated second and third places on corrected time well done to all who took part. 


FIRST      TOUCH OF CLASS
SECOND   SUNDANCE         
THIRD      ENCORE
CHAGAL  DNF

On Sunday Frank on a touch of class returned to Mooloolaba with Three extra crew making a total of six Sundance and Encore continued on cruising around the bay until thursday.

Report from:  Keith Baker

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Sundance represents SCYC in the 8th Beneteau cup in Moreton bay

29 yachts started in the 8th  Beneteau / French cup Challenge  held at Royal Queensland Sailing club  on the 1st and second October, Sundance helmed by Keith Baker and crewed by Lorna Maike Ed Boyd Trish Wallis Smith And Steve Roberts had a great start in the very light winds of only 3 - 6 knots  these light winds are not good for Sundance said Keith as we have a very small rig and Sundance is only a cruising boat but its all down to getting clear air on the start line.
The course was passage race with a short windward leg of 2 nautical miles then a ten mile close  reach  over to peel island then a spinnaker run around to the south side in very light conditions proved to be only the lull before the storm no one had any idea of what was brewing around the last down wind leg , the lead boats were all grouped together then were all hit by a 27 knot gust  the crew of Sundance could see the wind approaching and quickly dropped there code 0 just in time before the wind hit Keith said he watched the wind speed clime from 4 to 42 knots in les than te

n minuets .
The strong wind claimed a few casualties on this leg but these conditions very much suited Sundance over taking several larger yachts on the last windward fight to the finish.

Sundance finished a very credible 10 th on handicap well done too all the crew this is a great weekend for anyone who has a French yacht to participate if you would like any further information on this race please contact Keith Baker    This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it