Sunday, 27th September 2026
PSCS had five boats entered.
Cabaret 7 — Commodore Jeremy with Aqasya as crew.
Kittywitch — Rainer with John Kara as crew.
Jerry — Thomas with Alice and Riri as crew.
Alice — chartered by potential new members Basher and Abdullah, who fortunately persuaded Captain Freddie to come and coach.
Second Wind — Faheem, instructor Lan and Syabil (a potential new member) as crew.
Emily, with Evan and his son Eugene, was also entered but was ultimately unable to participate.
It was always going to be difficult racing conditions, with a high spring tide of 5.1 metres due to turn not long after the first start.
Lan and Rahim had laid the three buoys, as indicated on Race Officer Malcolm’s diagram. As it turned out, they were probably too far down the river.
A late start saw Kittywitch and Cabaret 7 cross the line side by side, with Jerry not far behind. Alice had problems raising her main and was left behind. It was going to be a tough sail.
With slack water turning into a strengthening flooding tide, competitors had to make difficult decisions: whether to follow the north shore, which is normally best in a flooding tide but meant having to cross to the first mark on the south bank, or cross early to the south bank to round the buoy.
Kittywitch chose the north shore, with Cabaret 7 further out, followed by Jerry. The wind had veered slightly to allow a reach across, which tempted Cabaret 7 to try to cross.
As is very often the case, the wind died on the south shore, possibly obstructed by the trees. It became the usual battle to reach the mark.
Cabaret 7, narrowly in front, was fortunate—very fortunate—to get a puff of breeze as she approached the mark. Rounding, she set off across the river to the second mark on the north shore, flying her spinnaker.
The other boats were less fortunate, faced with the double problem of a much stronger and strengthening tide combined with reduced wind. In the end, neither Kittywitch nor Jerry was able to round. Kittywitch even anchored.
The other two boats were too far behind and were likewise caught up with the ever-strengthening tide.
The other boats were looking forward to seeing Cabaret 7 happily sailing down under spinnaker, round the bottom mark, and then trying to reach or beat up to the finish.
Race Officer Malcolm, realizing the problems, kindly shortened the course so that Cabaret 7 did not have to go to the other mark.
However, she made up for this by trying to tie up to a pontoon, missing it and smashing against a pillar with the full force of the tide. Eventually, she was swept sideways onto the breakwater.
Fortunately, there was little damage apart from a broken rubbing strake. The Squibs are very tough boats.
Sadly, none of the other boats were able to round the mark. Malcolm declared the result as the order at the time the race was cancelled.
There was some discussion about second and third places. In the end, Kittywitch was given second place and Jerry third. The other two boats, further behind, were not classified as finishers.
As Martin noticed, there was a massive time difference in the finishing between Cabaret 7 and the others because, of course, Cabaret 7 had rounded the mark and no one else had.
The Race Officer wisely decided that no further racing was possible, and everyone returned to the club for a beer and a chat.
Rear Commodore Faheem had arranged nasi lemak for breakfast and satay for post-racing, which was much enjoyed and appreciated by all.
It was good to see three potential new members sailing, and the after-sailing gathering was as pleasant as ever.
We even have the new mahogany Mike’s Bar, kindly donated by Mike, in the window facing down the river, where we have cleared the trees. It is now possible to see right out to the sea.
Our thanks again to our Race Officer, Malcolm Elliott. He has prepared a really good set of courses and race instructions. Due to the high design of the clubhouse and its commanding view, he can conduct starts and finishes without having to descend to the pontoons.
Lessons Learned
Lessons to be learned are avoiding spring tides, keeping the two downwind buoys closer, and hoping for more wind.
Sailing at PSC on this river is a constant challenge, with tides and winds of great variation. Essentially, you win some and lose some. But most of us enjoy the challenge.
Looking Ahead
The next Skybird Regatta, scheduled to avoid the RMSIR period when many PSC members will be competing, is scheduled for 29th November.
Potential competitors will be relieved to hear that moderate tides are expected.
The club program seems to have disappeared for December, but we will try to fit in a final race.
Jeremy Camps
Commodore PSCS
29 September 2026