Tamworth's Hugh Evans set the pace as sailors returned to Lake Keepit on Sunday.
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After no racing the previous Sunday due to the Gunnedah lockdown, seven boats battled it out for the Vice-Commodore's Plate.
Lake Keepit Sailing Club Commodore Tim Corben reported that after a week of wet and blustery weather "Sunday at Keepit was amazingly spectacular, glassy water, brilliant sunshine..... for the power-boat enthusiasts and kayakers but for we sailors it was light and flukey".
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Despite the smaller than usual fleet of five laser dinghies, a trailer-yacht and a junior sailor on a club trainer, the competition on the water was fiercely contested, with the exception of Evans, who hit the front early and "disappeared into the glare".
Tamworth's Robert Kelly was the first to hit the starting line in his laser closely followed by the rest of the boats in what was Corben reported one of the best starts seen this season.
Evans clocked the fastest time followed by Breeza's Mick Bradfield in his laser, and Corben (Barraba) sailing a laser radial.
On corrected time the minor placings were flipped with Corben taking second behind Evans with Bradfield third.
Fourth was the only trailer-yacht in the field, a Castle 650, skippered by long-time Gunnedah sailor Stan White, ably supported by the crew of Bob Talbort (owner- crew) and Jenny Croft (navigator).
This Sunday's racing will be Heat 2 of the Club Championship Series.
Bradfield took out the opening heat in blistering fashion, beating the next laser home by four-and-a-half minutes.
