Over 70 very keen sailors lined up for the briefing before the first twilight race of the season at the club on Friday night.

They headed out with some trepidation to sail a new course, which didn’t include just up and down the channel and narrow tacking.

There was sufficient water to race to Alongshore and across Aggies Creek, then down to the Barrage and back along Hindmarsh Island.

Apart from one or two running aground because the edges are no longer visible, they were excited with the experience.

New boats joined the race and new crews were ready to learn the ropes with their new skippers.

Competition provided many challenges, particularly on the start line, and final results very close.

RESULTS: Restricted 21s, scratch, 1st Dolphin - Michael Veenstra, 2nd Nerana – Randal Cooper, 3rd Bright’un – Mike Schirmer.

Trailable Boats, scratch, 1st WhizzBang – Kym Bannister, 2nd Red Thunder – Wayne Kruger and 3rd Bohica – Todd Bartlett.

Dinghies, scratch, 1st 3 Fives – Peter Fagan, 2nd Flying Squad – Brad Briggs, and 3rd Classic Wings – Randy Elkson.

Saturday was the official season open day, Mayor Kym McHugh declared the season open and in doing so offered congratulations and support to Commodore Keith Parkes and his committee for the efforts they have put in to making the club a viable sailing options during difficult times.

The fleet led by past Commodores Graham Roberts and Ian Fulton, saluted the officials who enjoyed the spectacle of the Sail Past on board Digby Thomas’ boat ‘SwampFox’.

The Inaugural Alexandrina Cup Race was held on Sunday, combining sailing and cruising with the Clayton Bay Yacht Club.

There were two heats, one race up to Clayton and one race back, with fellowship and a BBQ at Clayton over lunch.

The first heat provided lots of tacking but the weather was reasonable and the second heat proved to be a very fast run back.

Eleven boats took part in the racing and four others joined in from a cruising perspective. Overall all participants enjoyed the day and the results were:

RESULTS: 1st Audacious – K Durward, 2nd Neranda - A Wagyon, 3rd Music - B Pattullo.