Sat 15th April was the last S80 SoPYC Club Series race to decide the season winner. Billed as a shootout between equal leaders Fair Game and ShadowFax, the day saw a light and shifty NW breeze with 7 boats on the start line – under a shortened course flag.
Up Front renamed Don’t Panic!! sailed by Mat Selby got a good start and headed left along the Applecross foreshore, with a bunch of RP boats. ShadowFax sailed by Jim Gooding got a great view of the start and as a result tacked and headed right towards the Nedlands foreshore, along with Grand Piano. The middle of the river was a graveyard and unfortunately Fair Game (Dean Picot / Sue Game) found this out the hard way. The first beat to Smith-Lucky saw boats on completely opposite sides of the river. When the fleet converged it was Grand Piano with the wily Tony Strickland who rounded first with ShadowFax and Fusion hard on its heels. ShadowFax edged into the lead around Squadron but Don’t Panic!! was making inroads into the leading group and with some good tactics rounded Armstrong to briefly grab the lead. Fair Game was doing its best to close down the gap to the leading bunch.
The long run down to Como saw ShadowFax edge back into the lead just ahead of Don’t Panic!! with the following three RP boats (Fusion/Sweet Babs & Grand Piano) all within a stone’s throw. ShadowFax crossed the line taking fastest with Don’t Panic!! a close second and taking out first place in both the Association and the SP Club Heat. Well done Mat!
Tension was high as the clock ticked down on Fair Game but with an excellent leg to the finish Dean slipped inside the target and took out second place over ShadowFax. Fair Game thus won the shootout and took the overall series Trophy and winner’s prize. Well done to all on board!
A great day of the water was rounded out with a jetty drinks get together in the Western Hardstand by all the fleet with the beers put on by the Association! Hope to see you on the water next season
