Christmas was a time for a relaxing break from boatbuilding and to letting my muscles recover. A bonus was to go out on the Harbour and watch the start of the Sydney to Hobart. We positioned Passion X at the Heads near to the turning mark and were well placed to watch the action as four 100 ft maxis tussled to be first out of the Heads.
After two days of relaxation and with some fine boatbuilding weather I attacked the fairing of the hull with a vengance and over the next two days managed to complete the fairing and epoxy coat the aft end of the hull. Now at least the stern was protected from the weather.
New Years Eve, New Years Day and the 2nd were fully occupied with assisting at the ILCA (Laser) Oceania regatta at the Georges River Sailing Club where we were inspecting all the yachts for compliance with the ILCA rules. It was still good boatbuilding weather on the third and with a few days of rest behind me again attacked the fairing with a passion. In one long day I completed the middle of the hull leaving only the front 20% to be completed. Now the forecast turned for the worse but tempting fate I finished the last 20% on the Wednesday before the rain set in. It was very fine timing as the cost of epoxy was just touch dry when the drizzle started.
Wednesday is our twilight race day so it was an early finish and a quick trip to the club. With festive seasons absences and with a miserable forecast we fully expected a diminished fleet and the crowd huddled in the doorway at the club seemed to want to call the whole thing off and go home. Rumours of lightning and BOM warnings were circulating but the warning zone did not extend to the coast so it was all clear for the sailing.
A most unusual night of sailing ensued. I selected longish courses as out regular post race BBQ was no scheduled and if we took a little longer to finish the race it was not going to upset any plans. And the breeze was rising and falling ahead of stronger wind forecast for the Thursday. For our small crew I selected the No 3 jib and was prepared for the consequences if the wind died.
The race was conducted in two halves, not by plan but by chance. At the start Joli, Meridian and Irikundji got a good break from Utopia and ourselves on Passion X while Fireball and Ausreo struggled to get the phasing right to get out of Humbug. All the way to Goat Island and back we we chased Utopia and Irukandji while Ausreo chased us. Any chance of catching Joli and Meridian seemed to have escapes as they were already minutes ahead but strange things happen. Back at Longnose Irukandji and Utopia were stopped dead in the wind shadow. Here Utopia managed a mini break while we snuck through to leeward of Irukandji and Ausreo went even wider and made up time.
At Cockatoo Island the breeze died to less than five knots and we were soon overtaken by Ausreo who was sporting a large overlapping genoa compared to our tiny No 3 jib. Once out of the wind shadow of Cockatoo Island we went high and made ground on Ausreo while in the distance we could see Joli and Meridian becalmed in the wind shadow off of Balmain. The sat there motionless for a long time which encouraged us to go even wider than usual. By a bit of luck the breeze freshened as we approached the point so the wind shadow blew away for a few moments and let us pass Ausreo to windward and just hold them out for the rest of the journey.
Joli and Meridian were first into the hole and first out so they made up some of their lost ground but then lost it again going around Goat Island the second time. On rounding Goat we were surprised to see the three leaders not far ahead. Again with a bit of luck we held out the small jib to windward and went very wide of Snails Bay so that we could give Long Nose a wide berth on the way home. Ausreo liked what we were doing and followed so we both made up ground.
Into Humbug we took the wide berth and headed for the Onion Point shore and made up a little more ground and at Onion Point flipped the jib out to windward again and headed for the line.
On fastest time this was one of our better performances and a handicap win is always appreciated. Much appreciated was that the rain held off apart from a little drizzle.
I am at a loss to understand how we got so far behind at the start and how we made up so much ground at the finish but it was a most pleasing race.
That was the last of the fine weather as Thursday and Friday conditions were not suitable for any construction work. I did a tiny bit of filleting and setting out partial bulkhead positions using the laser level but a very lille big indeed. The weather was so inclement that sailing at the ILCA Oceania Championships was abandoned on both days and we hope for better weater for them for the final two day.