The last race of the Aquabroker Summer Series took place on Wednesday, 24 September. The evening was a rarity with almost flat calm and easterly winds averaging eight knots. Due to the time constraint and the low wind strengths, Race Officer, Dave Vinnell selected a short course with an 'all classes' start. As the wind was blowing from the East and the tide was dropping all boats were pushed onto the club start line from behind. The result was a congested start line with up to 20 yachts competing for the best position to hoist spinnakers while avoiding oncoming boats.

The penalty for either hoisting too early or being in a position where your boat had to give way at the last minute would result in the boat ending up on the wrong side of the start line. Likewise any boat that was forced to do penalty turns (for not giving right of way) was likely to lose considerable ground in the congestion and unfavourable conditions and probably blow their chances of a good result. Tensions were high as boats were jostling for position and hailing each other for the right of way.

Between the one-minute gun and the starting signal, colourful spinnakers were being hoisted all around Rinville Bay as the boats vied for a spot on the starting line. As the starting flag dropped one over eager boat, Joie De Vie, which been leading the Class 1 series had been forced over the line. The Race Officer raised the recall flag and indicated the foul over the VHF radio club channel 8. Glenn Cahill and his crew immediately got into action to try to salvage their race.

Meanwhile the lighter boats fought to find clear air from the rest of the fleet as these conditions suited them perfectly. In Class 1 the Corby 33s and 1720s were performing particularly well as AWOL and After Optique, who made a pin end start took up the early running. In Class 2 Fiona O'Driscoll, the only female skipper helmed her boat, Laught superbly to hold the lead position from the start even though she was in battle with the class 1 boat Sabrina, skippered by Kevin Heery. As both classes of boats gybed their spinnakers to zig zag their boats out of Renville Bay there were plenty of close call crossings.

Of the Class 1 boats Now What and Iberaki took long northerly gybes towards Leverets lighthouse in an effort to gain the advantage of the receding tidal waters. As usual there was nothing to spare between Siamsa, Rhocodar and Silverfoam approaching Cockle. At the buoy both fleets rounded with only metres between the hulls and again it was a question of demanding rights for water.

After rounding cockle, while the sun was setting over the Bay to the west, selecting the right tactics was going to be critical. Iberaki, a heavy Class 1 boat, took to the North again. The crew had prepared the boat well for the race by scrubbing the hull to remove any deposits that might slow her in the light winds. She sailed extremely well to cross the line in a photo finish with Joie De Vie and AWOL to pip the lighter Optique by seven seconds on IRC handicap and take second position in Class 1 on the night. That's Life was first.

The race for the series in Class 2 honours was much tighter. Siamsa held on after a tough fight to maintain second place on the night and take the IRC series from Rhocodar. While a great win on the night saw Laught take the podium finish for the series from a disappointed Cormac MacDonncha on SilverFoam by one point. Another good race by Ian Conboy and crew on Sandrine resulted in second place under the ECHO handicap system giving them first position overall for the series while a win on the night by Frantic helmed by Frank Fahy and crew promoted them to third place for the series above Silver Foam.

The final series of the year starts on Sunday 5 October and runs until the end of the month.

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