Passion X from the deck of Tartan showing the light air at the finish
we got what was promised which was 17 knots of wind for the Wednesday Twilight at GFS. Using an excess of caution we set the No 3 jib and applied plenty of backstay to flatten the main. In this mode we had a quite pleasant sail around the course if you exclude the heavy work of the mainsheet hand managing the gusty conditions.
The fleet made a very good start spread out along the line with perhaps the exception being Sweet Chariot who was a bit high on the line and possibly in the wind shadow of the hill behind the start line. The rest got away well with the ones lower down the line doing comparatively better again due to the wind shadow combined with a bit of a lull at the gun.
Through Humbug there was also a good line across the river with Jackpot directly to leeward and Utopia a bit forward.
Our run to Cockatoo was in fresh conditions and we particularly enjoyed surfing down Meridian’s stern wave but they were not about to let us pass.
Along the back of Cockatoo Island we did better wide out until the three J boats picked up this huge gust right against the shore and jumped ahead. Fortunately that ran out before the corner and we caught them again at the point but could not sail around Jackpot. Meridian having nosed ahead of the group of three J boats did best around the end of Cockatoo and emerged with a substantial lead.
We setted in for the long leg to Goat Island following Joli as best we could making ground in the lifts and losing in the knocks such that by Goat Island they had pulled out at least a minute and did another minute around the back of Goat and down the Snails Bay shore.
From Long Nose it was our turn to pick up a bit of fresher breeze and do some catching so that by the time Utopia entered the wind shadow of the end of Cockatoo we had gained on her and the three J boats. Then it was our turn to fall into the wind shadow and it took quite a time to emerge due in part to us being in too close and in part due the the small size of the No3 jib which does not like anything under 15 knots..
Back into the breeze we stabilised our position to finish eight over the line and sixth on handicap.
We were happy to be around 3 minutes behind Utopia, 2 minutes 20 seconds behind Jackpot, 2 minutes behind Joli and a minute and a half behind Meridian. That was enough to beat the three J boats on handicap but not the Sydney 38 who now must be heading for the top of the leader board and with a good drop to go. And while we did gain one point on Joli they have a bigger drop so realistically we are third.
Much Ado V and Infotrack in first and second place today must come under the influence of the handicap algorithm. Sweet Chariot obviously got going as they finished ahead of Passion X on handicap and Fireball suffered from a reefed main as the breeze faded and finished last fastest and last on handicap. A bit more courage from the fire fighters is on the cards for future races.
Perhaps it was not as windy as I indicated in the opening paragraph as the big Ausreo finished three minutes behind Passion X but did improve on their result in the light air races with a third on handicap and we would have had to sail a minute faster to match them on handicap.
Dump Truck just ahead off the first corner of Cockatoo Island
Passion X tacks away from Joli on the work along the Hunters Hill shore
Joli tacks for the Goat Island navigation mark having pulled away a minute from Passion X
Close encounter with jackpot off of Cockatoo Island