Good tacking angles to Cockatoo but on the wrong side of the shift approaching Goat Island
This week we got the start just right being on starboard tack on the windward edge of the fleet. Agrovation tacked across the fleet on port and back onto starboard just ahead of us but then stalled allowing us to pull up alongside and to windward. As we approached Onion Point Agrovation wanted to pinch us out and luffed as high as they could go. With our small closely sheeted genoa and full main we were able to match their height but once they were headed and their genoa backed we were out of there. They could not tack on top of us and with the header they were stalled holding up the whole fleet to leeward. We tacked away much earlier that we would have liked but the prospect of Agrovation involuntary tacking onto port with the big header was too much of a risk and we did have the benefit of the lift. By sheer luck we shaved Onion Point at mid tide and just hung outside the line of moored yachts along the Woolwich shore. Looking back we could see the fleet becalmed in Humbug and we counted our good fortune to have scrambled away.
While we had a big break on the fleet we were sailing with our smallest headsail and the wind was easing from the 25 knots earlier in the day so we took no chanced and tacked to cover any changes in the breeze.
Out tacks to Cockatoo Island were pretty impressive and it does show the advantage of a small jib in shifty conditions. Behind we could see Irukandji had broken away from the pack and was giving chase. Their chance came on the approach to Goat Island where we were caught on the wrong side of two shifts. Our tacks here look as bad as our earlier ones look good and it was here that Irukandji made up all the lost ground. From there we had little hope of holding this longer lighter faster yacht on the reaches and runs home.
We were rewarded with a second fastest by a good margin over Worlds Apart and a first on handicap to seal our spring series win. A series equal third on fastest times was also appreciated in such company as Irukandji, Jedi and Worlds Apart.
Ron put our improved performance down to the 200 kg of lead we removed from the hull after the RANSA series. I am inclined to agree as we have managed to keep Passion moving in the big breezes without the lead and any weight saving is good for the light airs. The other factor in last nights good performance was the new forestay. Joe Walsh replaced the forestay we damaged last week and set up the rigging the way he likes it. This is with less mast prebend and hence a fuller main which suited us in the lighter conditions. We made good us of the backstay to flatten the main in the gusts when needed so I think we will leave the rig a little looser from now on.