Yachts brave blustery conditions as Mary Maitland’s slick spinnaker work helps secure victory

Once again skippers and crews had to decide whether to sail in the blustery easterly that blew at a constant 21 knots across the Albany harbour last Saturday.

Only four yachts from division two made the brave choice to venture out in a harbour course handicap start event.

Wayne North, who usually skippers a Flying Fifteen, was at the helm of Princess Eve for its first competitive sail and was given a generous handicap.

Stephen Brown in Mary Maitland gave Princess Eve a 28-minute start and he set out to catch and pass her.

Both Stephen Lee in Flasheart and Josh Hughes in Joker gave Brown a three-minute lead and they put on a great display of match racing as they pulled out all stops to chase down Brown, who wasn’t hanging around for them.

Brown’s crew showed some slick spinnaker work which saw them using their handicap to maintain a handy lead.

Joker and Flasheart didn’t have the luck with their spinnakers that Mary Maitland was having and when Joker fouled its kite, Flasheart surged ahead.

Princess Eve, which had been passed by the rest of the fleet, pressed on even if she did struggle in the conditions.

Brown proved to be too good and probably didn’t need the three-minute handicap but used it wisely to take the race.

Lee in Flasheart, after his stirring encounter with Joker for much of the race, was second and recorded fastest time in a fine effort.

Hughes was third over the line and would have been pleased with Joker’s performance as for much of the race he gave Lee a hard time.

North stuck it out and finished the race with Princess Eve.