After a first and second place the previous weeks coming in sixth seemed like a bit of a let down. Two seconds faster and it would have been a fifth place in a depleted fleet of just eight yachts. Yes the forecast was so miserable that it kept all but the most hardy of sailors ashore. Aggrovation returned to the fleet and had a handy win. They chose their sails for the day well and deserved their first place. Rainbow set a large genoa and a reefed main and did well to come second after a first the previous week. Hopefully the handicapper is noticing.
Allegro set the most sail area in the fleet and went well on the run to the heads but must have suffered on the return to record a fourth place.
Both Izzi and Passion were caught on the outside of a big left shift that gave the inshore boats a big gain. Fortunately for us the wind was light close into the headland so we made up some of the ground. The reef we put in on the work back reduced our sail area too much for the variable conditions. Against the forecast the afternoon was the lightest period in the 24 hours and our rig was perfect for the wind at 7 pm. when we were home in the comfort of the air conditioning.
I think the sixth place was a good result considering we were under canvassed for a good part of the race and the big left hand shift that helped everyone except Izzi and us. It was appropriate that it was Izzi that beat us by the one second as we sailed the same course and they had the better rig for the conditions.
Our sixth place is a drop. We have two sixth places as drops and an 11.5 points lead in the pointscore. We can use the two drops and still be in front 1.5 points even if the next yacht has two wins. Wet miserable days suit us when the fleet is depleted. Our worst scenario is lovely weather from here to the end of the series that brings the whole fleet out to play.