Lake Keepit Sailing Club’s main race on the weekend saw a number of sailing beginners turn out.
There was 15 starters in the main race on Sunday with six of them having their very first race.
The race fleet comprised seven laser dinghies, four O’Pen Bic training dinghies, two catamarans, a corsair and an RL14 trailer yacht on a diminishing Lake Keepit Dam sitting at 8.5 per cent.
Weather conditions were ideal for this celebration of Australian Sailing’s “National Discover Sailing Day”.
The morning’s activities had all of our training boats out on the water for sailing instruction and practical activities on the water, in a light yet consistent north-easterly breeze.
The club’s new fleet of O’Pen Bic dinghies provided fantastic sailing for the smaller and younger sailors due to their simplicity and completely unsinkable design.
These boats were supplemented with the Laser dinghies with smaller sails.
All participants spent at least three hours of sailing in the very safe and supervised water environment.
The afternoon’s race was part of our club’s race calendar, but was abridged so that all newcomers could sail a boat or crew on one to increase their awareness of how much fun competitive sailing can be.
The club hopes to see many of these novice sailors back in the coming Sundays to further hone their skills and participate in the club’s activities. This was a most enjoyable day for the club members assisting and those trying their hand at sailing.
Corrected time placings of those sailing dinghies that completed the racecourse were:
1st: Lachlan Overton (junior sailor on an O’Pen Bic) from Walcha
2nd: Adam Lucas (junior sailor on a Laser dinghy) from Armidale
3rd: Natasha Beyers (adult on an O’Pen Bic) from Gunnedah
4th: Tim Corben (adult on a Laser) from Tamworth
5th: Kevin Overton (adult on a Laser radial) from Tamworth
6th: Keith Garrett (skipper “Dragonfly” a RL 24 with crew; Sally Lucas, Jenny Croft, Raylene McLenaghan) Quirindi, Gunnedah and Tamworth
7th: Doug Whiteman (skipper from Tamworth with two juniors; Olly Overton and Fletcher Easey from Walcha and Lake Keepit)
