Sailing: Windy conditions test skills

The Broome Sailing Club is hosting wet season races once a month until April, with sailors battling against the elements.

In the last race on Sunday, January 12, three starters tested their skills in blustery conditions.

Miranda Dibden, Gary Harding and John Dayman undertook two races that involved sailing both into the wind and having it at their backs. They launched from Town Beach and completed a triangle-shaped course.

Dibden was victorious in race one, with Dayman taking second.

Harding looked like challenging, but he ran over his spinnaker on a return leg and capsized while rounding the mark.

Race two was a tightly contested start, with Dibden capsizing to give the other two sailors a chance of victory. However, with Harding suffering another spinnaker jam, Dibden was able to take first place and record her second victory.

Both races were completed by the sailors in less than 45 minutes, with Phil Aagren and Stan Best supporting on the safety boat.

Broome Sailing Club principal training officer and Rear Commodore John Dayman said it was a good day's sailing with some strong times recorded.

The next races are scheduled for Sunday, February 9, and will again start from Town Beach at 10am.

The club will hold an open day on Saturday, April 26, with everyone welcome to give sailing a try.