A surprise southerly change had the crews on their toes and the Waikawa Boating Club yachts on the move in the Marlborough Sounds last Sunday afternoon.

Thirteen boats entered race three, of four, in the Redwoodtown Doctors Spring Shorthanded Series, which Bavaria, who placed second on Sunday, leads.

Only seven completed Sunday’s race, in which Midnight, skippered by Chris Webb, claimed line honours and the overall win.

It began with almost no wind, three or four knots, meaning yachts had to chase wind shifts or be left behind. The southerly change came up quickly, but race officer Mike Underwood was fast to warn the competitors of the strong winds he was beginning to experience at Whatamango Bay.

That VHF radio message got out just in time for most.

Jeremy Turnbull, the skipper of 8.30 News and the series organiser, said that they were flying their spinnaker when they got the call from Underwood and dropped it about 20 or 30 seconds before they got hit with really strong winds. If they had still be flying their spinnaker when the winds hit he believe they would have suffered serious damage.

“It was quite challenging in the first part and then it got really challenging,” Turnbull said. “It went from one extreme to another.”

Webb was pleased with how Midnight performed in the southerly, “she behaves herself well in strong winds.”

He started the race with their biggest headsail and a full main. When he saw the strong winds hit the boats in front of him he quickly put down his spinnaker and when it hit him there was only the mainsail up. Gusts got up to 30 knots at times, forcing six yachts to pull out. Khamsin placed third, leaving them second in the standings to Bavaria.

Results for race 3 of the Spring Shorthanded Series: 1 Midnight, 2 Bavaria, 3 Khamsin, 4 Acquiesce, 5 Maracas; Line Honours: Midnight.

Series standings: 1 Bavaria, 2 Khamsin, 3 Prime Suspect, 4 Settimio, 5 Welcome Home.

– The Marlborough Express