Day One of the 2018 Etchells Victorian State Championship

Jukes of Hazzard skippered by Brendon Jukes and crewed by Brian Jukes and Matthias Houvenagel. Great facial expression!!! © Alex McKinnon Photography

Two Races for Day One being staged out of the Royal Brighton Yacht Club. Racing commenced after a short time under AP whilst everyone waited for some wind to come in.

Race One got underway at 1407hrs, and after such a wait, everyone was eager to get going with two general recalls before Ross Wilson, the Principal Race Officer, called for the dreaded Black Flag. The third attempt was all clear.

Close racing on the way to the bottom gate for the first time - photo © Alex McKinnon Photography

Range was 1.1nm on an axis of 140 degrees. The race started in six knots and would range 5 to 10 knots for the rest of the day. The first race took 63 minutes. The second race was set on an axis of 150 with a range of 1.25nm and got underway at 1525hrs. Three boats were over, but all returned to the start.

Overnight leader is Northern Havoc, which is Skippered by Iain Murray, and crewed by Richard Allanson, and Aaron Cole. John Collingwood, Ian Johnson and Tim Ede on Dawn Raid are one point astern on Dawn Raid, as is Lisa, which is skippered by Martin Hill, with Julian Plante, David Chapman and Mark Langford on board.

Northern Havoc skippered by Iain Murray and crewed by Richard Allanson and Aaron Cole. Currently in 1st place overall with a 5th and 4th in today's racing - photo © Alex McKinnon Photography

Dawn Raid - Skippered by John Collingwood and crewed by Ian Johnson and Tim Ede. With a 3rd and 7th they are currently in 2nd place overall. - photo © Alex McKinnon Photography

Lisa AUS925 – Skippered by Martin Hall, crew Julian Plante, David Chapman and Mark Langford. Currently one point off the lead, which they share with Dawn Raid - photo © Alex McKinnon Photography

Magpie skippered by Greame Taylor and crewed by James Mayo and Steve Jarvin leading the way to the top mark for the first time in the second race - a 17th and a bullet has the AUS Champs in sixth place overnight. - photo © Alex McKinnon Photography

Iris V skippered by Peter Mcneill and crewed by Dean Blatchford and Ben Morrison-Jack. Concentrating on the job at hand on the way to the gate in the second race - photo © Alex McKinnon Photography

Aerial entertainment whilst they waited for Race One to start - photo © Alex McKinnon Photography

That's Life is skippered by Ian Crisp and crewed by David Buckland and Jefferson Bacon. Enjoying their time on the water! - photo © Alex McKinnon Photography

Dawn Raid leading Iain Murray's Northern Havoc and Tom King's Iron Lotus to the top mark in the second race for the first time. - photo © Alex McKinnon Photography

Yandoo XX AUS1435 - Skippered by Jeanne-Claude Strong, crew Marcus Burke, Seve Jarvin and Jenni Danks. - photo © Alex McKinnon Photography