Duncan Dey
Ballina’s Richmond River club opened its season on Sunday, 6 September in a perfect 12-knot sou-easter.
Four fleets started their hour-plus races, with each fleet containing a variety of boat types, so race times are adjusted to achieve results based on the skill and luck of each crew on the day.
Paul Wrightson won the monohull race, Tony Pullyn took out the catamaran race, Ian Bowles and crew Sarah won the trailer-sailer race, while Clare Southwell and crewman Matt dominated the gennaker fleet (a gennaker boat is a single-hulled dinghy with a spinnaker launched from a pole extended out of the bow).
So that the club can keep racing, members and visitors keep 1.5m apart on shore, the clubhouse is out-of-bounds, and inter-club racing is discouraged.
Sailing being an outdoor sport has the advantage of being safe enough to be allowed under our new COVID-safe lifestyle.
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