SUNDAY FUN DAY

After competing in a surf comp on Sunday morning that left me totally exhausted. Gooby and Kyle had to get the boat without him. Things were already looking pretty intense.

With a reasonably fresh N/NE 18 maybe only just touching 20 knots. The majority of the fleet selected to go with number 2 rigs including us.

On the water the boat felt good with plenty of straight line speed. Another clean air start on the boat set us up for a good first work. However after rolling Panasonic and Asko and on the verge of rolling Kinder Caring, we hit some waves that knocked us around pretty badly and forced us to make an early tack before Bradleys (costly).

Up the first work we sailed off the back of the top bunch and rounded the top mark in about 10th place. After electing to go for an early gybe on the first leg around Shark Island; we managed to pass TF and Omega Smeg. On the second leg of the downwind a Broken Active Air was passed and we moved into 7th place. Up the Second work we were hot on the heels of Fisher and Paykel. At the half way mark of the second work we had crossed and passed them and were looking ahead to see how we could catch the next boat, Pure Blonde. However once again gear failure was responsible in spoiling our race and leaving us frustrated and angry.

Whilst we were on port tack smoking up the course lifting up on the longest tack to our top mark, I suddenly felt weightless followed by a falling double pike twist into the chilled waters of the harbour. My trap rope at the top of the mast had snapped and had left the boys sailing two up and me doing swimming lessons in sailing gear!

Despite all this, the good sailing we had done prior had given us a good gap between the boats we had passed. Once I was back on board and got going again we had only lost 2 boats with a new plan of trying to hold our position. With only two of us able to trap on one side at the top mark we had lost another two places to Asko and Omega Smeg putting us in 11th where we stayed for the rest of the race after having some awesome NOKIA style rides on the remaining down winds and some smart conservative sailing on the last upwind

Despite being our best result of the season it is still disappointing as we know that we should be up there in the top 8 but haven’t had the best of luck or been able to put it together.

For now Gooby and I will be up in Hamo for our 49er Australian Sailing Team stuff which should be exciting, however it means that we will both miss next race.

Not to worry!!! We have found some rock stars to fill in for us and hopefully get a good result.

Graig Ferres will be on the wheel and Ben Austin will take sheet hand and kyle will remain on the bow.