Zuri masters tricky conditions to win combined reduced fleet race ahead of Jessie James and Joker

Sailors were once again thwarted by unseasonal southerly wind gusting up to 25 knots which prevented many from venturing out.

However two division-two boats and a lone division-one yacht faced the starter for a King George Sound event on Saturday November 16.

Club officials decided to race division-two yachts and a combined fleet that would give the division-one entry some chance of success.

Josh Hughes skippering Joker, and Neil Worrell aboard Zuri with only one crew, were first away, leaving Brett Hawker to give chase in Jessie James 30 minutes later.

Both division two boats had opted to sail with jib and mainsail, whereas Jessie James used a spinnaker when suitable.

The southerly was a constant 20 knots throughout, with the odd nasty gusts which had skippers and crews on their toes for much of the journey.

Joker had led Zuri out into the sound and disappeared from view before Hawker began the daunting task of playing catch-up.

Hughes continued to sail well to keep his lead, with Worrell dropping off the pace slightly but always in contention.

After several legs in the sound, Joker was first back into the harbour, followed by Zuri.

It wasn’t long before Jessie James came into view and was sailing extremely quickly, soon passing Zuri.

Joker went on to cross the line well ahead of the other two but Zuri had done enough on handicap to take the division-two race, with Joker second and fastest in another fine performance by both boats.

In the combined fleet resul,t Zuri was again declared the winner, with Jessie James second-fastest and Joker in third place.

All credit to the intrepid skippers and crews who didn’t hesitate to challenge the weather gods.