It wasn't the text book start to the Australian summer for the launch regatta of the SA Summer of Sail today, with strong northerlies of more than 25 knots forcing racing at the Adelaide Sailing Club to be postponed.
With that being said, there were still a few keen sailors getting in some practice in the breeze, including a handful of Optimists, Lasers and a sole Sharpie deciding to get in the thick of it.
'Nude' was the lone Sharpie, her crew enjoying some great rides before coming ashore amid a strong wind warning and thunderstorms on the way.
Nude’s sheet-hand, Sean Keen, said he and his team had about a 30 minute window where the breeze looked okay, so they decided to get in some heavy weather practice while the opportunity was there.
Some of the high level Optimist and Laser squad sailors also gave it a crack, thriving in the windy conditions and treating it as a good hit out ahead of the upcoming nationals.
On Sunday the entirety of the Optimist States and fair chunks of the Laser and Sharpie States are relying on a favouring breeze to put together a series.
There were 32 Sharpies today, the biggest South Australian fleet seen in more than six years, while the Lasers and Optimists also had strong turnouts with more than 30 and 50 boats respectively.
Harry Fisher
