Heat 1 started in a pleasant 15 knot easterly (onshore) breeze with a confused sea. All was progressing to script until the second leg, a run, when the fleet was engulfed by a squall with gusts to 30 knots which brought a serious reshuffle to the fleet standings by the bottom mark. Several boats capsized with one being unable to continue due to floating below the water surface. Rookie and Morton broke the mast on Fflashpoint while running second and have re-rigged another one in order to be ready for heats 3 and 4 on Wednesday. The breeze softened for the rest of the race and Aussie Falcon (Dale Collings and Glen Scheen) took the win from Ashley Smith and Matt ( Ff sake) and Mark Daley and Nicky Maygar (4 kin L). John Wilson and daughter Deanna (Fast Lane 4) shook off yesterday’s woes to finish 4^th. Eagle Eye ( Karen and Russell Dawes) won the silvers and were 7^th overall. Heat 2 had less surprises but a solid breeze and building sea providing some great moments under spinnaker around the triangle. Ashley and Matt (Ff sake) won from Dale and Glen (Aussie Falcon) with Mark and Nicky (4 kin L) third. Eagle Eye just pipped Fast Lane 4 on the line to finish 4^th and 5^th respectively. Full results.....

Welcome to sunny Queensland where it hasn’t stopped raining and the outlook is for continued precipitation for most of the series. After a short delay, the invitation race got under way in a solid easterly with Rookie claiming at least the second best start. Dale Collings and Glenn Scheen ( Aussie Falcon - Victoria) lead at the first mark with several boats overlaying and having to play “catch up”. Not often we get to sail in such heavy rain with corresponding wind strength. When the rain finally killed the breeze, crews were bailing fiercely in very light conditions. Dale and Glenn were never headed to win from Karen and Russell ( Eagle Eye - WA) with Ken and Lee Bubb ( Bubbles – Qld) third. Rookie and Morton ( Fflashpoint) finished fifth but claimed a moral victory by being the only boat to carry the kite around the triangle. John and Deanna ( Fast Lane 4) had no luck with the breeze and failed to finish within the time limit. It all starts in earnest tomorrow with heats 1 and 2. Follow Sandgate Yacht Club Facebook page for more information.

Team Dawes finish second in the invitation race at Sandgate Queensland. First place went to Mordiallic team sailing Aussie Falcon and third place local sailors Ken and Lee Bubbs sailing Bubbles. Full results....

The Notice of Race for the 2015 WA State Flying Fifteen Titles has been issued and can be downloaded from here. More information on the State Titles is available from this page.