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This is year the Tyson was hosted by Lake Macquarie RYC and sailed at Teralba Amateur Sailing Club.

There were 15 entries with 12 arriving on the day including Mark Newman from Canberra and a contingent from Newcastle.  Colin Andrews sailed on Sunday making 13 entries.

RO Frank Russell got the sailing underway, just after 10am in a light North West breeze. Conditions were A rig and shifty all day backing and following the Sun which was unfortunately on the water all day.

Andrew Holly between moving the marks dominated in the conditions and at one stage putting together 5 straight wins. Other wins were shared between the other 5 placegetters. When time was called at 15 hundred, 12 races were sailed. Andrew held a lead of 6 points from Phil Page, with Mark Newman a further 10 points back.

Sunday dawned with possible rain threatening and a Southerly wind which necessitated the course being moved from the North side of the ferry jetty to the South.

Colin Andrews joined the fleet for day 2 and racing got underway in top of A rig breeze.

Despite Phil Page starting the day poorly he quickly started to string wins together and began to claw back Andrew Holly’s lead.

Racing was fast and more collisions were in evidence but there were few raised voices or problems. All incident were handled quietly and penalty turns being done promptly.

Mid afternoon a Southerly front came through necessitating a rapid fleet rig change. All skippers went to C rigs but the wind drop off some apart from the occasional stronger gusts. Greg Mence’s boat was the only boat with a B rig which improved his relative speed. He said “the rig was marked C so i put it on”. Greg as a result took a win along with  Mark Newman and Steven Walsh took the final race win after struggling all regatta including a blown out winch.

The results were close. No one was sure who the winner would be. But Andrew Holly managed to hang onto a one point win.

Mark Newman from Canberra was third while Colin Cooley took home the Bob Shedden Memorial Trophy for best newcomer.

Thanks to the sailors for being well behaved and so sporting. Thanks also to Andrew Holly for setting the marks, Marilyn Russell for scoring along with Kathy Turner and of course to Steven Walsh for the organisation.

Frank Russell RO.