Light winds and tide make for record zig zag tacking angles.
In this case the very light winds and the outgoing tide provided the perfect opportunity to record our worst tacking angles ever. Now I have seen experts go worse and the Volvo Ocean race Tracker provided many examples of much worse conditions and we have heard of times when the fleet anchored not to the carried backwards. But for us this was as bad as it gets.
The short distance between Cockatoo Island and the Hunters Hill shore does not give a lot of opportunity to hang on in the lifts and tack in the knocks. It seemed to us that every time we approached a shore we were forced to tack away from a good lift.
As the day wore on the breeze shifted to the north so the last work up the river along the Hunters Hill shore was more forgiving and we could hug the rocks in low flow areas and make some respectable progress. By then the game was over. As every minute wore on the breeze softened the distance to the lead yachts who were closer to the finish went from minutes to fractions of an hour. Only those behind us fared worse with handicap honors generally going to the earlier finishers.
We did have one bit of luck on the second work up the river when we tacked as the breeze came across the course only to have it stop advancing. Now the crew were a bit dejected at the course we were taking away from the breeze but as happened for Another Planet on the previous leg and for Utopia on the tack before the southern side gave a brief respite and we came back with a handy lead over Utopia and Sweet Chariot. Another Planet was by this time in another world due again to the dying breeze.
Good points for the day were beating Utopia across the line by virtue of that lucky tack on the last work and beating Another Planet courtesy of the dying breeze. Bad points were being thrashed by Irukandji who has done no wrong this series.
It was in all a very pleasant day and topped off by a chat on the deck of knowledge after the race and negotiations on transfer fees for valued crew members.
As a bonus photo painting of the carbon fibre whisker pole is progressing well under the awning. The pole is supported on posts at the two ends so it can be rotated easily for painting.
Carbon fibre whisker pole mounted for easy rotation while painting.