It was breeze on for this years edition of the event that would once again test the sailors as they took on the 53km upwind/down adventure course.
Andrew Cooksey (kite Foil) won overall in a time of 1h45m cover a distance of 62km with an average of 18knots.
2nd place Leon Vale. (kite Foil)
3rd Gina Hewson. ( kite Foil)
The wind arrived early morning and was a steady 20knots as KiteFoils & Catamarans headed for the mid-day start.
6 KiteFoils & 22 Cats took on this epic challenge, which for kites would be one if the longest kite races in the world!! Alty Frisby was unlucky to snap a line during this first mini 4nautical mile loop in front of the club so had to retire.
Olly Bridge & Andy Cooksey stretched an impressive lead on the rest of the fleet by the time they completed the mini loop and headed for the outer mark at Garden island.
Reaching garden island they turned to head south, against the breeze heading to to the top of the course near Rockingham!!!
Navy no-go zone, weed banks, mussel farms, a major shipping channel and the certain large fish in the area make this haul up to Rockingham a challenge on the mind & body!
Arriving at Rockingham the lads turned to return back up the coast and put the hammer down, a downwind leg of 7 nautical miles, at speed!!!
Olly was unlucky to break straps so was left with no choice but to continue for the most part strapless is big wind and rough water conditions.
The chase pack of Leon Vale, Phil Rowland & Gina made impressive pace to the top of the course, with the challenge of navigating through mussel farms & weed backs ever present. Phil nearing the Rockingham bridge stopped to clear weed from his foil and with a swift ninja flick cleared the weed and clipped a centre line, his race was over and one of the many support boats on course was soon to rescue him.
Leon mentioned turning the top mark, it was daunting to look back and not being able to see fremantle or even woodies, and knowing thats were you heading back to to complete the race. Certainly the making of adventure race!!!!
Looking forward to next year already!!! GPS track for 2015 JBSC Around the Sound @ raceqs.com/regattas/49430
