Right From the RIB – Final Day at the Perth Fifties…!!

I am very sad this is my last day doing my on water report from the stunning Swan River for the final race of the 50th Aussie Nationals.
Pleased to say it’s another wonderful day with the usual clear  blue sky, waves with white tops and a lovely but shifty 12 – 18 knots building as the race goes on.
They got away on time with an individual recall from the 1st start for the long course today of sausage, triangle, sausage, windward leg.
As they approach the top mark Adele & Dean obviously determined to banish yesterdays disappointment are clear ahead followed by Lillo a distance ahead of the pack –
3933
3670
3609
3775
3100
3063
3717
Steve in 9th & Baxy in 16th.
Wow Adele & Dean have got an even bigger lead as they approach the top for the 2nd time … away they power on a broad 3 sail reach!
3933
3775
3881
3690
3717
3859
3878
3224
3987
3988
A big gust hits the back half of the fleet so there are many ragging sails and out of control boats. Away in the distance I can see the fleet flying along the bottom reach with 2 white kites close together appearing to be way above the rhumb line – my educated guess is it’s Steve & Baxy as they are both using white kites today. These boats have now gybed back to the leeward mark but we’ll have to see what the outcome/damage is when they get back here.
Well 3rd time around
3933
3881 closer this time
3775
3859
3717
3988
3878
3670
3987
3781
At the finish
3933
3881
3859
3775
Steve 8 or 9 and Baxy further back.
The maths gets more complicated as the 2nd drop comes in as they will have completed 8 races and the following is completely unofficial ..
3988 Steve & Matt
3987 Baxy & Simon
3775 Mike & Riggy
3933 Adele & Dean
The next are too close to call … the official results will be out shortly.
A lovely race to finish the series!
South of Perth YC have hosted a great event in a magic environment.
See you in England soon ….
Cheers
Gill