Summer Series Races #7 & 8
The first day of March, 2026, dawned bright and blustery over Lake Samsonvale. The Queensland sun beat down in between the clouds which built as the day progressed. The real story was written in the wind — a gusty, medium-strength southeasterly that promised a lively day for the LSWSA Summer Series.
A small but fiercely keen fleet of monohulls and multihulls gathered at the start line. The air hummed with tension and the snap of sails being trimmed. As the starting horn sounded, the boats leapt forward, slicing through the choppy water. The gusty conditions were a true test of skill and nerve. One moment, a boat would be cruising smoothly; the next, a powerful puff would heel it over dramatically.
The unpredictable wind soon showed its teeth. There were a couple of dramatic capsizes, the crews scrambling onto upturned hulls with practiced efficiency. The day’s most persistent contender, however, was a spirited multihull. In a display of either unmatched optimism or sheer stubbornness, it capsized not once, not twice, but three times in relatively quick succession. After the third dunking, its drenched but smiling crew finally conceded defeat and retired to shore, earning a round of sympathetic applause from the race committee.
Through it all, the volunteers were the unsung heroes. From the start boat to the mark layers and safety crews, their seamless work ensured both races were conducted safely and efficiently. Thanks to their efforts, the two challenging races were wrapped up in a remarkably short time, allowing competitors to share stories and swap lies back at the clubhouse.
As the boats were de-rigged and trailered away, there was a shared sense of accomplishment. It had been a day of thrilling competition, friendly rivalry, and the kind of memorable mishaps that forge lasting camaraderie. The lake settled once more under the Australian sky, already waiting for the next chapter in the Summer Series.
And the wind is free!
Story by Lock (and Ai)