Dolphins Keep Fleet Company On Day Two Of Australian Nationals

Day two of the M24 Australian Championships and Queensland chose to turn on spectacular sunny skies and light seas breezes, we shared the course with a pod of dolphins chasing fish.
 
The first of three races was started in 7 knots of Sth East to East breeze on Moreton Bay.  Locals Ian Barr Dirty Girl USA 555 and Nick Moriarty Business Time USA 206 sailed to the right side of the course which paid off, first and second to the top mark.  Heath Walters Matilda AUS 19 was late for the start but also went right and third around the top mark.  Geoff Masters  Jolt and Heath Townsend Kaito headed left towards a line of pressure which faded out and eventually built in from the right.
 
Positions shuffled throughout the two lap race, Matilda sailed from behind to a convincing win.  Business Time tussled with Dirty Girl for second and third respectively.  
 
By race four Cameron Mile Roger That AUS 762 was finding his form from day one and  it was looking like Heath Walters Matilda had found his groove on day two, Matilda was seconds behind, applying constant pressure the entire race.  A clean start and 3 shorter legs kept the pack tight.  In a hard fought gibing dual on the last leg Roger That  held out Matilda and almost  allowed Heath Townsend Kaito AUS 709 to sneak through making for a nail biting finish.
  
The competition ramped up for race five with a general recall at the start, boats hassling for position.  The second start had two individual recalls, Malcolm Wood FoxMayWonder  AUS 668 and David Farrimond Vitesse  AUS 710 but it was Warren Sare Arriba Arriba AUS  1 who came out leading the race ahead of Heath Walters Matilda. Both boats battled it out for top position with Matilda taking the gun,  Arriba Arriba second and Roger That third.
 
By the end of day two Heath Walters Matilda is leading the regatta one point ahead of Cameron Miles Roger That and Ian Barr Dirty Girl third place.  
Beer was waiting on the dock for competitors and presentations were made from our sponsors Ullman Sails and Balgownie Estate Wines.  The bottle of rum went  to  FoxMayWonder  for managing to loose their Tacktick overboard,  Business Time came to the rescue, going for a swim between races and picking it up.
The pressure is forecast to increase towards the end of the week, providing plenty more tight tactical racing.
 
Tracey Walters
IM24AA