Organisers first thought conditions to be ideal, but it wasn’t as it seemed. 

Club spokesman Rob Morton said conditions were “stronger than we thought” as he and the field lined up for the start.

“It was more than what it was when the course was set – the wind was building to 25 knots,” Morton said. 

Morton said he attempted to help Reif Oliver, who had flipped off the line, but “the pully on my bridle exploded, so I could not help then and had to limp home”.

Two thirds of the field were able to safely navigate their way back to the club, but it wasn’t smooth sailing for all. 

The rescue boat was required to right one boat before sailing back to the clubhouse. 

Two others also had to be towed back to shore on the day. 

“It was an exciting day, but not much sailing unfortunately,” Mr Morton said with a laugh. 

The weekend also featured the ACT Multihull Championships, on Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra.

Local Tony Hastings won second prize in his division.

It was a 70-year span of entrants from a 10-year-old junior to Hastings’ 80-year-old father Richard. 

“Dad raced well, often at the front of the fleet and won a special prize,” Hastings said.

“Being able to share the weekend and race against him  was very special.”