Wet Season in the Wetsundays

1:11 AM Mon 2 Feb 2009 GMT

'Rain Squall Whitsundays' Sail-World.com /AUS &copy

A boisterous wet season has continued to test the patience of Whitsunday Sailing Club sailors who have been forced to hang tough as they wait for a welcome break in the weather to begin the 2009 season.

The month of January was almost a complete wash-out with the tropics tormented with the normal monsoon season and rig stressing wind.

Collectively the crews are capable of handling the 'brute breeze' but there is not a high degree of fun factor associated with hiking on the high side up the windward beat and having the crew skills threatened with sail and reputation damaging wipe outs on the spinnaker runs.

Unfortunately weather forecasters are predicting that the 'wet season' and the over active monsoon which has dumped flood rain in the northern tropics will continue to bend moderate to fresh trade winds onto the Whitsunday Coast this week.

However while the weather bureau post wet and windy bulletins at least the temperature remains warm while the 2008 class champions and their respective challengers pace the dock waiting for more favourable sailing winds to blow into Pioneer Bay.

The talented catamaran racing husband and wife sailing team of Scott and Vicki Millar are among the crews who are currently suffering from withdrawal symptoms.

They stepped up into racing in the fast lane after buying the former Joel Berg skippered dual Australian champion Raider and justified the investment by winning a share of the major class trophies in 2008.

Skipper Vicki Millar simply enjoys the challenge of racing and never hesitates to push to the limit believing the real thrill in catamaran racing can only be achieved when the trampoline is drenched with spray and the windward hull has broken clear of the water.

Her controlled aggression combined with the sail handling and trimming skills of husband Scott allowed Rum Raider to be the star performer regularly outpacing their handicap rating over the complete wind range.

They are determined to repeat the results when the racing for 2009 season trophies finally gets underway.

The Division 3 class champion Rob Davis is relatively happy about nature's gift of water -it's his business.

His every day job is involved with distributing purified water to local businesses however he prefers to spend more time in the salt water environment steering Breakaway to trophy winning results.

Breakaway clinched the 2008 Summer Season title with a commanding 12 points over the John Hudson skippered Sunflower and apart from carrying an increased handicap penalty is a strong chance to defend the title when the weather becomes more sailing friendly.

Rolex Sydney Hobart Performance Handicap class winner the Volvo 60 Telcoininabox Merit and her crew are also looking forward to 'break the shackles'.

Skipper Leo Rodregius has spent enough time answering numerous messages of congratulations and is keen to take a break 'offshore' with and against a bunch of mates when the sails are finally hoisted to decide which crew will have the 'bragging rights' in 2009.

by Ian Grant

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