Tracks from 16th March twilight showing the tacking angles up to Goat Island
The fresh breeze suited our selection of the No 2 genoa last night and we made a good start following Agrovation on the beat to Cockatoo Island. Izzi and Worlds Apart were in hot pursuit and we lost and gained ground depending on who was on the lifting side of the course. We held them out for the work to Goat Island until we tacked away from Izzi and let them get to the port lifting tack first. By now the breeze had deserted us and in the light conditions it was hard to know if it was just an under canvassed boat or a second wrong move at the approach to Goat Island that let Worlds Apart through. From Goat Island it was a drift and in these conditions the heavy laminate on the No 2 genoa was too much for the breeze. Some breeze filled in from the South East and brought Gwhizz around Goat Island and into our rear view mirror. Eventually the breeze came down on us and we accelerated away from Gwhizz but Worlds Apart and Izzi were long gone. Much to our surprise we found Agrovation reaching back into Humbug after doing a extra tour of the river. The had been so far in front that they thought they were a black division boat. Try as we might we could not pass them and so finished with a fourth fastest and fifth on handicap. I had thought we would do better on handicap but a rain squall at the finish brought back the strong breeze and the tail of the fleet raced home. For the season points Izzi made up a lot of ground and with just two races to go it was good to see the handicap system give us a little more help for the next race. They also leapfrogged us on the most fastest times and are chasing Worlds Apart for the series. It will take a couple of great results to catch these two.