Palm Beach Sailing Club Marathon from Pittwater to Gosford

 

 

The annual Palm Beach Sailing Club marathon from Pittwater to Gosford and return has always been hotly contested.

 

This year's race on Saturday 29 March 2008 was no different with the surf at the entrance to the river and some fickle wind conditions playing a significant part determining the podium positions.

 

Trevor Gourley and crew Michelle, two newcomers to the club, convincingly led the fleet up to the Rip bridge and back to the river's entrance however fickle wind conditions saw their lead evaporate with a bunch of Hobie 16's and Tigers getting within 50 meters of them.

 

Their lead was enough though for them to catch the fickle Northeaster first and get into Broken Bay, scooting away for a great win from Pater Salter sailing with Leanne Price and Chris Hansor and crew Karen Krause on their Hobie 16's. The Hobie Tigers who had been gaining quickly and were likely to benefit from a great spinnaker run across the Bay had to skirt the sand bars and surf entering and exiting the river.

 

The Hobie 16's had no such concerns, being designed for surfing conditions, caught some great waves (on the way in) and some big air (on the way out) to keep an advantage all the way to the finish.

 

The lure of the surf was too much for some though. The youth team of Dean Price and Murray Grant abandoned the race in favour riding and jumping the waves much to the delight of the local surfers.