Damp and windy conditions don’t deter sailors in King George Sound flying start race won by Jessie James

It wasn’t as wild and windy as on the Queensland coast last Saturday but four intrepid skippers and crews ventured forth in a steady 25 knot southerly that threw in the odd nasty gust up to 30 knots, making for quick times in a King George Sound flying start race.

Brett Hawker’s division one yacht, Jessie James again joined three division three boats in a combined fleet with the division two boats sailing in their own right.

In the combined fleet both Jessie James and Neil Worrell’s Zuri opted to go JAM and as it turned out both were winners.

The start was close with not much between them until Hawker pushed to the lead.

Stephen Brown hoisted his spinnaker on Mary Maitland and was looking good until Stephen Lee did likewise with Flasheart and took off like a rocket to easily catch and pass Jessie James to lead the fleet into the sound for a couple of legs.

Hawker regained the front position from Flasheart and was first back into the harbour.

Zuri had been trailing the fleet but was doing extremely well with his skeleton crew and was staying in touch throughout and was a real threat for a place.

Flasheart was hanging on to second place with Mary Maitland just behind.

Jessie James crossed the finish line first and fastest in the combined fleet with Zuri second on corrected time with Flasheart in third place.

In division two, Zuri was declared the winner on corrected time with Flasheart second and fastest, and Mary Maitland took third place.