|
Highlights:
None. Although Bob did fall through the forehatch changing the headsail in the Marina. He was the one who left it open anyway...
Downers:
Everything. Bloody awful day!
Result:
5th on PYR for race 1, DNF on race 2. This is not going to be a Winter Series of fine results for us....
Lessons Learnt:
If there isn't rubbish sticking to the keel then performance like this can only be attributed to rubbish on the helm, or sail trim. If helming is indeed rubbish, always blame the sail trimmers...
|
|
....... |
Race 3 and 4 Winter Series. Two Short Inshores. Friday 20th February
Wind 5-10 North East becoming 10-15 and 15-20 at times throughout the day.
(Meaning they don't really know but there's a system coming in)
Bloody disaster of a day. Should have stayed in bed! The usual 09:00 briefing and we get out on the water for a 10:00 am start on the transit of West Pole and Pumphouse. Not a bad start, just a little late but we're up to boat speed across the line into the lead up to the first mark, East Bouy. Jackal feels fine on Starboard, (we're flying the big jib) but when we tack onto Port feels a little sluggish - and we can't shake Yella Belly.
Downwind angles are terrible too and we never pull ahead on this short-leg race, finishing only just ahead of Yella Belly and then Blue Chip to finally place a dismal 5th. Everyone very kindly suggests that maybe we're towing weed from our keel, but sadly this isn't the case. We leave Jackal on the Marina, complete with blood on the decks (from Bob's little trip through the open hatchway) and have our lunch mournfully.
The wind has picked up quite a lot, so, heading out for race 2 with our small jib we run down to the start, come up hard and beat back up to find ourselves well overpowered and decide to reef the main. This proves a protracted task, slatting around as the wind gusts rise. We finally (after ages) get the sail under control, but it's soggy, soft and badly out of shape. We're now extremely late for the start, still heading down to West Pole when the others have crossed the line, but we round the pin-end, harden up and tack to Port for the beat up to East Bouy. One boat has been dismasted and is lying broadside to the waves just down from the start. Approaching the top mark the main is flogging wildly and the jib, without the balance of the main is heeling us with massive weather helm. 20 metres from the mark we keep rounding up out of control and realise that we're stuffing this up badly. I call a retirement and after getting the sails down we motor back to the Club.
After a quick drink we slope off, not up to the challenge of comments and laughter that we usually endure on our 'non-performing' days. Going back to bed looks like the best thing to do right now.
|
