Wednesday was one of those days when you felt sure that the race would be abandoned and many of the fleet probably wish it was. The race officers in their wisdom shortened the course at the top mark for the Divison 2 fleet which meant we in Div 1 had a short leg back from the heads to the finish.
We started in more breeze than forecast and finished in almost unmeasurable wind. From the start we had Aggrovation below and the rest of the fleet above but arriving on the line with speed and with little to spare. For a while the good start kept us up with the fleet and looking good on handicap until the wind faded. Aggrovation had climbed above us and was well ahead but now becalmed. Larrikin took the shore route out of the tide and sailed away underneath. Eventually we adopted the light air tactic of avoiding the middle and headed for the shore where a little local gradient was at play and the tide was less. As we rock hopped along the shore we passed one yacht after the other until we arrived at the mark in no breeze. We had to run away from the mark to build speed to get steerage and while it felt painful to us it was diabolical for others including Trim and Viva. Aggrovation gave up her lead on us doing the same tactic of running away from the mark to get steerage only they were out in more tide and it took longer. The tracks from the chart plotter were not as diabolical as expected against the incoming tide and with just 2 knots of breeze.
After rounding the mark I was surprised to see Allegro and Fidelis not far ahead so if we could make the shortened course finish line before the cut off we would be in a good position.
Fortune smiled on us again with a late zephyr of three knots bringing us home on a beam reach ahead of all the Northshore 38 and other fancied competitors. A third place was a very good result on the day and it increased our lead on the progressive points.
For the second week we found a fellow competitor to assist with a tow back to the club and this was a long tow almost from the Heads to Rushcutters Bay. At seven knots the little Britannia was almost up on the plane.
It was a long slow day and a big thank you to the crew.
Tracks rock hopping against the tide in 2 knots of breeze.