(skipper's report in White, Anita's (crew) version in pink)

Saturday 5 May; Dawn breaks over the idyllic waters of Lake Cootharaba . Daylight sneaks across the picturesque, smooth waters that lap gently at the golden shore line. The tranquil setting belies its place in a drama, a clash of titans, that is the Queensland NS14 Championship. Mighty combatants seeking glory with their machines of man are gathering and the wind and water await the challenge at which they will rise to tempest peaks. Seafarers skippers dot the shore to measure up nature and their chances. Crews who have more important goals in life – sleep.

The aspiring crew of the good ship Prism of Life, enters the arena early. It’s good to see so many competitors enthusiastically preparing for the contest. Familiar faces are joined by sailors south of the border endeavouring to take another sporting trophy from Queensland . Such a gathering strengthens the unity of the NS14 family and fosters solidarity. The scene could only be improved by the presence of her skipper and boat….This is only a slight distraction as other arrangements have been smooth in preparation for attendance – the dog was safely delivered to the kennels and the fish had the decency to die, avoiding such trivial necessities as feeding.

Getting it together

The skipper finally arrives….

Already under stress - have I remembered everything - boat (check), spars (check), foils (check), financial reports (check), Championship shield (check)? Then the GPS (female) couldn't find Boreen Point - sent us to Pomona . Receive a desperate call "Where are you?"

Finally arrive; hurriedly unpack car to allow the better-half to go shopping or whatever better halves do. When I finally started putting the boat together - @#$% - where is the rudder blade? Oh.no it is in the boot of the car. Pleading call to my wife who has just arrived at the markets at Eumundi. This is going to seriously cost me!

Race 1:
Hit the water; boat feeling good. 15knots+. Just before the gun, nicely placed close to the line just the leeward of Duncan , with a nice space underneath us to gain speed into. Damm! Merrill saw the spot and stole it!! Bang goes the gun. Stuck like meat in a sandwich. Bang! What was that? The vang had just snapped. My very capable crew then spent nearly the entire work to windward in the bowels of the boat trying to jury rig the vang, after we had decided that we did not have enough time to get back to shore, repair the vang and get back out to the start for the second race. Obviously my negative karma for the rudder blade incident was coming back to haunt me.

Someone once said if you want to start sailing you’ll have to learn knots. I can think of worse places to discover how to tie a knot that won’t run in a piece of vang cord 2 inches long than on the first windward work of the State NS14 Championship – but not many. The anguished look of despair and frustration on my skippers face put my in mind to remember those familiar days at SBSC, Saturday morning sailing classes, watching students try to come to grips with a figure of 8 knot. If only I could get it to grip now, the intense stares from the back of the boat wouldn’t unnerve me so….

Managing to make the windward mark we settled into a screaming starboard reach. The leg itself wasn’t that fast – given that the main wasn’t half working. The screaming was coming from the nether regions of the boat. The best that could be done was to unthread the whole vang cord and re-rig it using half the pulleys; resulting to hardly any effect. 

Up in the far distance is the leading boats. Chris and Daniella almost a leg in front. Chris & Nikki Noyes (who said 2 seasons off would slow him down) & Duncan & Janet battling it out. Local star, Mitchell Codd doing well; the river boys, while not performing great were certainly enjoying themselves. Someone should have mentioned to the Murray Clan that the aim was to beat everyone else - not just each other. We finished second last.

Race 2: More of the same - but harder. Closer to 20 knots; boat almost impossible to sail, so we concentrate on hiking and keeping the boat flat (where have I heard that before?). Once again Wildfire was on fire. too far back to even see their sails, let alone their boats. Reaches were great again. We beat 2 boats home! The crew in one & the skipper in the other fell out. Thanks guys. Obviously some of the sailors kept some energy in reserve. Seen have an ale (or two) & then getting into the dancing at the local pub.

The ruinous gear failure was only diminished by the incredible pain in the legs – at least it gave as something else to thing about.

All in all a great day of sailing. The immediate challenge faced once we made the beach was how the legs were going to have any chance of supporting body weight, let alone bend at the knee. Why did I buy a manual car??

Sunday: Arrived early and reassembled the vang.  

 Race 3: Lighter breeze - around 10-12 knots. Someone actually beat Wildfire to the windward mark! Bob, come in - your 15 seconds of fame are now up. There was a definite bias on the start line, so I went right (port) & could actually see the whites of their eyes (briefly) at the windward mark. Wildfire win by 1 minute; Mark Goltz having a great race. Chris Noyes just edging me out into 7th - a mere 6 minutes behind the leader. Mitchell broke a vang in this race.

Race 4: Similar conditions to the morning. The start line bias was removed before the start. This time, where you went severely impacted your placings. Mark Goltz in the lead at the windward mark temporarily until passed by Wildfire. Chris Noyes, Chris Larsen, Merrill Turpin, Jim Reglin & us having a great battle for two laps. A wrong decision in which side of the course to go on the third work saw some of the fleet loose several positions. when talking to Chris Noyes after the race, he said he played the middle course; might not make large gains, but alternatively didn't make large losses.

Calmer conditions, less lactic acid burn. Won’t have to operate the clutch pedal with a stick.

Race 5: Chris & Daniella spent the time before the race; boat on its side checking batten tensions, checking rig tensions, putting on a larger jib, checking vang tension - but wait - it wasn't their boat. They were helping Rob Hyland (one of the slower boats) to set his boat up for the final race. Their gift of time, explanations on rig, and the jib to Rob is one we all appreciate. For the first time, Rob knew what it was like to be competitive. He was still smiling Tuesday. A special thanks to Chris and Daniella for this effort - this gift was the sign of true champions!

Back to 15 knots for the final race. My crew said she was a "ball of jelly" from all the hiking. Burning, legs are burning – The lady doth complain too much – me thinks. Wildfire completed the series with another win. Their only flaws over the week-end, were they were beaten to the windward mark twice in 10-12 knots! Is this a chink in their armour? Do we have to order that type of breeze to have even the slightest of chance? The rest of fleet battled it out with Duncan Dey & Janet Allured coming second; Chris & Nikki Noyes came in third.

The best placed Queensland boats were : Chris & Nikki 1st, Nev & Brittaney Murray 2nd with third place going in a tie to Neil Murray,Jess Higgs & Bob Murray, Jess Caplin.

The handicap trophy going to Chris Larsen & Darcy Woodward with Merrill Turpin & Iain Renton & Mitchell Codd & Lance Smith filling the minor placings

Epic

Queensland ’s final attempt at revenge against the southern intruders and their capture of yet another coveted Queensland sporting trophy  - the car park that is the freeway at the end of a long weekend. The only thing to slow Wildfire and ( Duncan ’s Boat) down all weekend was the ever dependable, inescapable Pacific Highway .

Tuesday 8-May-2007: 7:30am - arrive at work; back to the daily slog; but every now and then a smile creeps out onto the face (thinking of the great week-end we had all experienced & those fantastic reaches).

 Tuesday – sleep till 11am