Monday 2 - race 1

This is a series that we're not fully crewed for like thursdays. Looking at the forecast earlier in the week I thought it would be nice just for Steve and I to double hand the race. A bit busy on short course evening racing maybe so it was good that Alice was able to join us as well. She seemed to enjoy herself even though she wanted to do anything but be in the middle of the boat with all the strings, so that's exactly where we put her!

It seems to have been blowing and raining forever, quel estival? We were maybe too conservative to start off with a No. 4 headsail and a reef prompting comments about our main halyard being stuck. The No. 4 seemed to be doing much better though on a "2 holes clear" setting on the jib track.

Bill Barker was OD and set a triangle sausage course which meant we set up with starboard pole asymmetric for our first bear away hoist, unfortunately the port sheet clip popped off on the hoist (dodgy bowman) so we had to hurriedly drop, clip on, re-hoist and gybe at the wing mark. This went well but as we swiped the stern of Evisa, who was white sailing, competitive Phil indicated that he'd defend and we ended up below and alongside upto the leeward mark. Rubbish, but gave us an opportunity to hurl abuse. Coming into the leeward mark we pulled off a shake reef out/headsail up/ spinnaker drop in about 20 metres of water which was fun.

The next kite leg was deep so we selected the symmetrical and carried out a nice gybe without any real problems.

It was a fun race but we were fourth out of four....Nice to be driving again though.

A photo from the monday before last when we led the fleet into the leeward mark. Nice:



I love seeing all that lot behind us.