Today was one of those glorious winter’s day where you could sit in the sun, read the newspaper and have a nap but we went sailing instead. Our pre start preparation was marred by the genoa halyard turning around the forestay which necessitated a quick trip to the top of the mast to undo the wrap.
That sorted and the big black genoa raised we motored at maximum revs to make the start line on time. After feathering the prop we hovered around the start boat in windless conditions waiting for the last five minuted to count down. Just to the south east there was ripples on the water from the approaching breeze but we sat in windless conditions unable to prevent Passion touching the start boat. What could have been the start of the season turned into a 360 degree turn to exonerate ourselves from this rule infringement.
With the turns behind us we broad reached to south head and tight reached back to Steel point. What little tacking was required for the day happened in Rose Bay when first one side of the course was favoured and then the next. I think we won one and lost two as the tracks will show.
Giving the picture of the tracks the title “Bad tracks..” is a bit ungenerous as we did well lifting into Shark Island and bouncing off the shore but the memory of the approach to the mark still lingers on .
Bad tracks! Bad tracks!
On the second short windward leg we almost made up ground by tacking short of the lay line and lifting to the mark but a late header put paid to the gains we had made and we reached home without much hope of a good result. Our 11th place on handicap out of a field of 19 was a bit of a surprise. As much as we were affected by the light breeze at least eight others fared worse but still I felt cheated as the 15 knots promised never eventuated. You see we want it all, sunshine and robust sailing breeze, not this glorious sunbaking weather.