After a long and cozy winter, three brave but rusty sailors braved the challenging weather to kick off short-course racing for 2017-18; strong and shifting northerlies providing unfamiliar conditions that even confused the race officer. 

With the thoughts of gently easing people into it, the first race of the season was a quick single lap, but the strong winds and consequent high speeds meant that it was over virtually before it started. Not having even been in a boat for months was no handicap for Russell, who took first victory with a well-timed start in the sprint. 

Taking advantage of the strong winds -- not _quite_ reaching the too-strong-to-sail limit -- four more races were got off, each a three-lap "marathon" by short-course standards, giving plenty of opportunity for everybody to remember how to sail after a long off-season. 
 

With the cobwebs well blown out, short course racing will return on October 29th