It is unusual for me to be happy with a ninth place out of thirteen but in the circumstances of today I am genuinely pleased that we finished that far up the fleet on handicap. Despite the breeze dying on us on the run home after the front runners were over the finish line we were only two minute out of second place. We started down the line on time but found the fleet lifting inside us on a very large and long progressive shift. Not wanting to tack away from the lift we found ourselves locked on the north side of the harbour waiting for a solid shift back. We were out in the outgoing tide and in clear air so the tacking angles look fine but not good enough. We came back from the shore on a small knock but were forced back to starboard on the long board out by a couple of starboard tackers including Rainbow. When Rainbow tacked away she took the long board all the way to the south shore and when she tacked back onto starboard looked a mile in front. By comparison our port tack into the top mark was much shorter than her long dig across the harbour so we came out not far behind. To our surprise we crossed the eventual winner Larrikin on the leg into the top mark and it was only her superb running speed that got her back to the front. Also behind was Izzi who together with Larrikin had looked to be a long way in front half way up the beat.
A big progressive shift off the start line was a setback and there were few opportunities to cover the fleet.
The sun sets on a great day on the water
On the run back to Steel Point the rhumb line out in a bit of tide had better wind strength so we overtook Rainbow and Agrovation. Rainbow chanced the inside run around Steel Point and managed to nose into the breeze well in front of Agrovation and us who were becalmed out wide from the point. On the run home from Rose Bay to the shortened course finish line we never caught Rainbow but did manage to finish within shouting distance of Agrovation in front and Izzi behind and well in front of Crackerjack and Viva. The conditions were perfect for a day on the water. We tweaked everything we could from moving genoa sheeting positions forward to loosening the cap shrouds to power up the main and while it was not enough to win the race it was enough for a great day.