The title sums up our Wednesday Twilight race pretty well. There was a strong incoming tide with a difference between low to high of 1.8 metres so that was a factor in the racing.
We had a fair start in winds that were lighter than promised and then lost our way in Humbug blanketed by the fleet. When we did escape the doldrums we were well at the back of the fleet on a tight beat to Cockatoo Island. A couple of massive headers sent us towards the middle of the island and and a massive lift came just as we had to tack away from the island shore line. A little earlier of a little later would have been ok but it was our special knock for the night.
We made excellent progress up the middle of the course and came quite close to the leaders, Agrovation and Worlds Apart between Balls Head and Long Nose. We tacked away on a header while Worlds Apart kept going and got the better part of the lift. Agrovation was further up at Balls Head getting a massive lift on port while we were heading at least 30 degrees lower. When we tacked at the dolphins our luck returned and we had the better part of the starboard work all the way to the Goat Island navigation mark. The good bit was passing Worlds Apart along the Goat Island shore and then to go off chasing Agrovation.
The run back to Humbug was square and very light in Snails Bay. The fleet was coming up with wind from behind and it was difficult to find a clear lane. We struggled over square but near Long Nose the wind swung in our favour and we regained our second place with Worlds Apart trying to take our wind.
Into Humbug we were held high by the leeward yachts while Worlds Apart, French Connection and Farrst Company had better breeze and a sling shot from the tide along the Onions Point shore. It was amazing to see the speed of the yachts close in to the shore compared to our speed less than 20 metres out. It was all we could do to limp towards the finish line with the wind dead behind in all the meanings of the word. izzi from behind made sure we had all the dirty air we could get but we just held them out.
So from looking like a second fastest we were relegated to fifth spot which becomes a drop for the series.
The tracks from the evening tell the story.
Shifty conditions on our Wednesday twilight race