CLUB RACE -12 Jan 2013

With only 4 aboard we were very light for the conditions at hand.. A SE in the South Side of the bay randign between 20-30 knots.. Yolo opted for the J4 at the start and a full main.. A good start was had with only one boat ahead of Yolo at the weather mark by some 4 or so boat lenths.. A conservative hoist of the kite and a conservative sail down to Milnerton mark.. We rounded up the leeward mark still second place.. having pulled out quite a bit on the rest of the fleet as very new had spinnakers up.. We struggled on the upwind as we were light.. So got pushed a bit sideways in the gusts... Rounded the Weather mark and hoisted again, this time goign for Woodbridge.. We got going nicely, only to watch the lead boat do a spectacular chinese gybe, which took a while for them to recover.. allowing us to pass. After rounding up we sailed windward to the weather mark.. with the bigger boat sailing faster in hot pursuit to regain their position. After rounding the weather mark we prepped the kite but the angle was still too tight.. Eventually freeing off with the bigger boat behind us hoisting at the same time with them coming in fast.. We managed to still nip them over the line.. with us finishing first on line, first on handicap. It was a great day sailing. Boat performed well. Yacht Tencity requested a tow back into harbour. Their engine was not circulating and they did not want to use it. Aboard were: Ian, Phillipa, Special guest-Steve White a well know Ocean racer and past competitor in the Vendee and Dale..