I often refer to a yacht racing series as an attendance records as the results favour those who turn up week after week in all conditions. Today was one of those days where the conditions were forecast to be marginal and that kept many yachts away from what was a quite enjoyable bash into the breeze. At Fort Denison the wind briefly hit 27 knots on start time but for most of the day was a quite sailable 20 to 25 knots with gusts up to the thirties.
We had planned to carry the full mainsail downwind and reef at the turning mark but a pre race gust over the 25 knot mark made us cautious and we put in the first reef before the start. With the first reef in the fat head main passes inside the running backstays so there is one less task to worry about .
As we watched the division 1s yachts start we could see an abundance of caution with Blue Chip not bothering to hoist the jib and shortly after the start abandoning the race leaving Duende to finish the windward work without a headsail for a first and fastest. Now that is caution for you.
The first run was won by Amante with a full mainsail set. We passed Allegro who had similarly set a No3 jib and reefed main and had a slight lead on them at the turn. Star Ferry was rocketing down the course and giving Allegro a scare while to the north side of the course Leeward was exercising a great deal of caution for which we were very grateful. At the start we were sandwiched between Leeward and Allegro and a less cautions skipper could have put us all in trouble. Thank you Leeward.
Just before the turn we put in the second reef and set off after Amante. At first we were pointing higher which looked good but Amante powered away and had plenty of room to cross well in front. Allegro was powering up from behind and to leeward and judged the line into Steele Point better to be ahead. At Rose Bay we were right on their tail and tacked away for clear air. They were however quicker through the water and rounded Point Piper about a minute ahead. Allegro did look a picture with the black sails as she powered through the gusts so we were pleased to stay close on the day. That was the gap at the finish after a long beat to the finish line we we were pleased to have not slipped further behind. Rainbow and Star Ferry enjoyed the windward work back home less than Passion X so the handicap places were the same as the fastest times places and we were very grateful for our third place.
Amante carried their full main all around the course and apart from one round up seemed to handle the conditions exceptionally well and will probably suffer a bit at the hands of the handicapper.
Windy but not unsailable
The honour role for the finishers