Warm sunshine, light breezes and a smooth sea off Point Cartwright promise a gentle opening to the Etchells Musto 2008 Winter Championship; maybe too gentle with principal race officer Ross Wilson predicting a delay of at least half an hour to the first race, scheduled to start at 1100.

Two races sailed back-to-back are scheduled for the big 54-boat fleet in the six-race series.

Forecast is a 5-10kt NW to SW with a sea breeze kicking in this afternoon, but still expected to be only light.

Ross Wilson told competitors at the regatta briefing to get out on the water in time for the scheduled start. He is keen to get racing away as soon as possible with the expectation that the breeze may go lighter later in the day.

He also issued a good-natured caution for breaches of the racing rules to the crews in the record 54-boat fleet. 'This is a fun regatta, enjoy yourselves,' he said.

'Eighty per cent of you have come to have a bloody good time in Mooloolaba.'

In the remaining 20 per cent of more cut-throat racers would be the two overseas entries who have made a serious commitment to attend the regatta.

From Japan, a crew of J24 sailors headed by Wataru Sakamoto, is here to gain experience in Etchells. Sakamoto has done well in international J24 racing, finishing second at the 2006 worlds on Port Phillip.

From New Zealand, Alastair Gair's crew finished second in the 2008 Australian championship conducted by Royal Queensland YS, beaten on a countback of placing from the RQYS crew headed by Jason Muir.

by Bob Ross

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