Our No 2 genoa started life as a cross cut flex kevlar laminate with taffeta on one side and we had some good races with it but I felt the flow migrated too far aft. We had the sail retro fitted with carbon strings and that has made it into a very stable shape sail which we use in over fifteen knots of breeze. Over the season I have progressively moved the genoa cars further forward and that has helped with more drive low down and more even streaming of the tell tales. The clew now hugs the deck and while the sail is only 35% overlap we seem to generate good speed with it. As the overlap is shorter we can tack faster and that was put to good use on Wednesday night.
We made a good start although Kevin said we could have fitted the whole Laser fleet between us and the line at the gun. Despite that we crossed the line with speed and made it first into Humbug. The last we saw of Jedi was Ray telling us the course before he took off for another fastest time. Worlds Apart powered over the top of us off Greenwich Yacht Club so we had to follow in their dirty air. On straight line speed Izzi was below and in front and French Connection above and behind but not for long. French Connection used the height to advantage approaching the navigation mark off Goat Island while the rest of us slowed pinching to avoid a tack. By avoiding the tack we passed Izzi and managed to stay in front for the night. Around Goat Island I sailed high enough to stop Izzi going over the top but Farrst Company sailed through to leeward and Worlds Apart and French Connection opened up a sizable lead. In the run back around Cockatoo Island we sailed low and slightly be the lee to keep clear air and were able to pass Farrst Company and keep Izzi at bay.
The work back to Humbug and the finish line was where the ability to tack the No 2 genoa was put to good use. With Kevin calling the shifts we tacked on the headers and made up the sizable lead that French Connection had established around Goat Island. At the same time we drew away from Izzi and Saoirse. Farrst Company had a little altercation and did a 720 which put paid to her handicap chances for the night and explains why she dropped so far behind. Agrovation will have a clean bottom next week and will be back in form.
The wind record at Sydney Airport for the evening of our twilight race