A downward start line was set and a five to 10 knot nor’-wester, influenced at times by a nor’-easter, assisted the fleet.

Lachlan Brown aboard Accolade had her kite up first for the short run to the marine park middle-mark and rounded in the lead. 

There followed a close reach to Yellow Rock followed by a work up the coast to Wasp Island. 

Apostrophe, skippered by Tim Davis, was fast in the light conditions which suited her, forcing Accolade to keep a loose cover. 

James Gardiner aboard Xanthia stood away from the coast on port tack almost to the Durras mark lay line and found better breeze offshore. 

The S80 yachts, Avior skippered by Tony Sutton and Hotspur skippered by John Drummond were close behind the bigger boats.       

The turning mark off north Durras had been paddled out by Al Rosier in his kayak. 

Apostrophe sailed past Accolade to lead around the Durras mark although she soon gave the lead back by trying to sail too square downwind under her symmetrical spinnaker.

The fleet took a port gybe out of Beagle Bay and were then able to sail down the coast still on port when the sea breeze came in for a while. 

Wishful Thinking, skippered by Simon Lowth, made up ground by going further offshore.

She then timed her gybe towards Yellow Rock with precision and sailed over the top of Apostrophe on the final approach to the Caseys Beach finish line.

The breeze died out rapidly after 4pm, which didn’t do any favours for Avior or Hotspur. 

Xanthia won on PHS with smart tactics and surprising light air speed for such a cruisey yacht. 

Accolade was second with Avior third. 

On AMS calculations Accolade was first from Avior and Wishful Thinking. 

A fleet of close to 100 boats is expected to unleash their sails at the Batemans Bay Sailing Club Regatta this weekend.

It’s open to dinghies, yachts and catamarans. 

Entries from Canberra, Sydney and south east NSW are expected. 

The boats will be rigging up at Corrigans Beach and at the Hanging Rock boat ramp. 

Racing begins in Batemans Bay around 12.30pm on Saturday and 11am on Sunday.

The Anzac weekend regatta has been held for more than 30 years and is the biggest sailing race of the year.