While the Endeavour was happening down river, the RCOD’s had 5 or possibly six out racing in the afternoon, the largest Club fleet racing on the river that day!!

6 afloat, with 5 starters, a very close short tacking duel up the North Shore for the for top three was the order of the day for the first leg for Corella, Corinna and Cormorant, all having a go at the front, with Cormorant  just squeezing ahead at No.13 , very closely followed by the aforementioned.

Down to No. 5, with Corinna showing good downwind speed having edged ahead, then she executed a quick smooth rounding with enough momentum in the momentous tide to tack back to the South Shore and up towards No. 11.  Corella with increasing speed, edged past Cormorant on the first part of the leg, and then began closing on Corrina.  The three on that shore became two as Cormorant went North near No. 7, apparently The Judge calling that the river ‘Witches River Doctor route’, others might just say river guile, anyway, at this point the wind died leaving ‘the two’ stationary for a while, while ‘the one’ edged up the shore on a puff or was that her just her imaginary ‘broomstick’  and rounded No. 11 ahead.

Not all was over as The Judge continued the chase, with a final squirt of pace just before the line managed to edge past Cormorant by a boat length and take the victory in the shortened race, with Corinna close behind.

The conclusion for all afterwards on the balcony was a cracking hard-fought race in sunshine,  with a delightful 5-10 knot breeze for the Old Girls , Coram and Corsair had their tussles too, while Corinthia, with possibly the oldest helm on the river that day took the cruising option for the afternoon.

– Justin Waples