Day One of the Sydney 38 Nationals hosted by RPAYC was a testing day for all teams with a unique weather pattern that saw teams constantly battling to stay “in phase” with the wind.

The first race started out in a light nor'wester, with wind strength ranging from 3 to 6 knots. Argie Bargie managed to come off the start line well with Risk to take an early advantage.

They held this advantage until the final downwind leg of the race, where the fleet behind them slowly engulfed them. Outlaw sailed a great downwind leg to gain a lead on the final run to the finish where they managed to hold onto this lead to take the win in the first race.

A familiar face at the front of the fleet was Sandringham Yacht Club's Lou Abrahams who was next in The Zen Challenge with RPAYC's Old School, skippered by Mark Griffiths, sailing a better second half of the race, with a comeback from mid fleet, taking out third place.

Racing was then postponed as PRO Steve Merrington was faced with two weather patterns fighting one another.

Eventually the second race got under way with a 10-knot nor'easter filling in. CYCA's Michael McMahon's X3 led the fleet around the course for the entire race to take a convincing win with Ian Guanaria, the current NSW State Champion aboard The Tavern, also sailing under the CYCA burgee, coming second & Robyn Tedder's Stonybroke from RPAYC in third place expressing consistency with their second top five placing.

The race committee tried in vain to start the third race but struggled to get a steady wind direction to start the fleet. The wind started to build from the north to 20 knots but the wind direction was still unsteady. After a few blown up starts and a general recall  the fleet managed to finally get away and complete their first leg. As the boats reached the top mark the wind shifted to the left considerably, causing the boats to not be able to hoist a spinnaker on the downwind leg.

The Race Committee made the decision to abandon the race due to the large wind change. Immediately following the  abandonment the entire fleet was flattened by a large rainsquall.

The fleet was battered by 45 knot gusts with one gust measuring a peak of 52 knots on the wind instruments. All boats managed to get everything under control and eventually got all the sails down to motor back into Pittwater.

Once all boats arrived at the dock, soaking wet, they were cheered up with a dock party where Boatmate put on drinks for all the teams.

Tomorrow’s forecast predicts moderate south winds early on in the day with a nor'east breeze building in the afternoon.

With three boats tied on 7 points after Day One, Michael McMahon's X3 is ahead on countback on top of the dual RPAYC competitors Stonybroke and Old School. It promises to be a big day tomorrow as they fight for a podium spot in this tough field of 17 boats.

For today's results go to http://www.rpayc.com.au/sydney-38-australian-championship.html

By Ton Spithill and Damian Devine