​The fleet was greeted by a glorious summer’s day at Balmoral beach with wind out of the east in the 7-10 knot range with the odd gust up to 12 knots. Although easterly there were winds shifts both north and south through the afternoon.
 
Six Mirrors hit the start line: Fast Glass, Spiegel, Tiger’s Tail, Molly M, Jazze and Wave Catcher. Tony was borrowing Spiegel and Amy Lee and Rowan Hughes were in Jazze.
 
The fleet was tightly clustered at the boat end of the line for the start with an ensuing drag race to be the first into the lift off Grotto. Jazze got there first, tacked into the lift and crossed the fleet. Wave Catcher was close behind followed by Tiger’s Tail, Molly M, Spiegel and Fast Glass.
 
With recent updates to the spinnaker rigging on Jazze, they were able to hold on to the lead on the following spinnaker legs but a small mistake dropping at the bottom mark saw Wave Catcher sneak through into the lead. Racing was continuing through the fleet with Molly M chasing Tiger’s Tail and Fast Glass hot on the heels of Spiegel.
 
Jazze showed exceptional speed and height up the next windward leg to push Wave Catcher all the way with Wave Catcher rounding the top mark about a boat length or two in front. A tight downwind leg saw Wave Catcher and Jazze never more than a few boat lengths apart and there was plenty of waving and pulling faces between the Hughes boys on both boats. Amy, cool, calm and collected as always wasn’t put off by these antics and rounded the bottom mark still only a couple of boat lengths behind. While the rest of the fleet was a little more strung out the tussles continued between Tiger’s Tail and Molly M and the two single handers: Spiegel and Fast Glass.
 
The final lap followed a similar pattern to the previous laps with Wave Catcher fighting to maintain a slim lead over Jazze which they held to the finish. Tiger’s Tail finished not long after followed by Molly M, Spiegel and Fast Glass.
 
It was a very enjoyable day on the water or in the words of Lewis “a very gentlemanly sail”.  
 
1. 70854 Wave Catcher.                     Cullen & James Hughes 
2. 70595 Jazze                                     Amy Lee / Rowan Hughes
3. 67151 Tigers Tail                            Derek & Claudia Hadwen
4. 70917 Molly M                               Lewis & Breda Thatcher
5. 67800 Spiegel                                 Tony Mandl
6. 67151 Fast Glass                             Andrew Dent

​Despite a forecast for a freshening NE there was still some uncertainty in the rigging park as to what the day would bring.
However, once the fleet left the protected confines of Hunter Bay, we were left in no doubt that there was a bit on.
With Tony Mandl still working on his boat and Andrew Dent assisting on the rescue boats, the fleet was reduced further prior to the start with Molly M deciding that the bar looked better and Tigers Tail suffering a pre-start capsize. The rest of the fleet got away to a cracking start with multiple lead changes on the beat to the first mark.
The forward hands had negotiated a little extra competition amongst themselves by putting up a chocolatey prize for first round the first mark.
Honours this time went to Douglas and Spencer in Waterbourne at Last, with McMissile (Campbell and Stirling) hot on their tail.
Close behind were Wavecatcher, Firefly and Yenda Lee with all 5 boats rounding less than 10 seconds apart.
Plenty of action on the shy run followed with boats launching their spinnakers in gusts well over 20kn.
First to grab the next gust were Gavin and Oliver in Firefly but no sooner had they taken off when the rudder popped up and they lost steerage and promptly capsized with Charlotte and Benedict in Yenda Lee moving up to 4th. 
Next to take off was the Wavecatcher with the World Championship winning crew of Cullen and Rowan reunited for the first time this season. They soon moved into 2nd hot on the heels of the leaders.
The boats were forced to drop their kite before the gybe mark and the leading boats rounded together. Here the crew work on Wavecatcher shone and a quick spinnaker set enabled them to take the lead that they held until the finish. Behind them racing was close until the finish with Douglas/Spencer holding off Campbell/Stirling. Charlotte/Benedict took 4th ahead of a very soggy Gavin/Oliver. 

1. 70854 Wavecatcher.                  Cullen & Rowan Hughes 
2. 70800 Waterbourne at Last      Douglas Raftesath / Spencer McKay
3. 57993 McMissile                        Campbell & Stirling McKay
4. 70665 Yenda Lee                        Charlotte Raftesath / Benedict McKay
5. 70813 Firefly                Gavin & Oliver Cooke
6. 67151 Tigers Tail                Derek & Daniel Hadwen
7. 70917 Molly M         Lewis & Breda Thatcher

No soon had the Mirror fleet arrived home when a 40kn Westerly passed over the course wiping out many of the remaining boats on the course. The rescue boats had their work cut out and a very tired and bedraggled Andrew Dent arrived back to the clubhouse after performing his first live rescues. Well done mate!