Unfortunately the 20knot north easterly that was forecast never came in, which meant a light day out on the water. Yet this did allow for manoeuvres and close race tactics to be practised, and crew work perfected, often with the art of light weather sailing remaining frustratingly elusive.

The return of beef producer Ray Lance was welcomed, as he so cunningly skippered his rainbow festooned catamaran around the course with the determination and dexterity that so accompanies those from the Comboyne plateau. Indefatigable, however, appeared to be a little fatigued as skipper Rohan Nosworthy found, amidst a role take turned awry that the boat was in fact sinking, and despite immediate attempts to rectify the situation, morale took a blow. This was in sharp contrast to the grandfather-grandson team aboard Frothy, who appeared quite comfortable on the water.

Sisters Kim and Georgina Lentz aboard Domino lead from the early stages of the race, seeming to work every lift and find the pressure on the downwind legs. They were overtaken in mid race by Highly Explosive, skippered by Warren Sykes who then maintained his lead, and crossed the line in first place. Domino was the next to cross the line a few seconds ahead of The Scream, who after a brief scrape with the bottom of the lake, came in at third. The Tasar, Beaujolais, dropped for the day its French intoxicant label in favour of the more pronounceable Sister Act, with the boat being skippered by Wendy Lentz and sister Sandra who gained a fourth place. Ian Oxenford achieved first place out of the catamarans.

The day was not without its frustrations, but the close fleet racing made for an interesting time on the water. The start boat crew are, of course, gratefully remembered to us all.