Tracks for 27th July. Going as close to the Bethwaites as we dared.
A first last week did not do too much damage to the handicap as the result was close. The second place today will do more damage as we were well in front of the fleet on handicap with the exception of Rainbow. Rainbow had a few bad races and her handicap quickly improved but her big win today will see her come back to the pack.
The No 3 tacked to the deck and a single reef in the main worked a treat today. On the run to South Head we stayed close to the fleet and even rounded in front of Krakatoa in what must be a first for Passion. The work back to Rose Bay was not too tight so we could keep speed up and hit 7.7 knots. The whole fleet was moving similarly but relative to our usual speed we were doing better. We powered over Izzi and took time out of Rainbow. On the work from Rose Bay to Shark Island we almost called on the the Bethwaites for afternoon tea but eventually the covering yacht tacked and we were able to go over on to port tack well ahead of the yacht that had tacked to port earlier. Here we passed Rainbow and drew further in front of Izzi. We went wide of the lee of the island on the way around and made up a bit of ground on Larrikin and Brittania. It was enough ground for us to catch Britannia on the work to the finish despite their very best endeavours to pinch up into our path.
In the end the handicap Rainbow had was too much for us and we had to settle for second place but an increased lead in the progressive total.