Double Handed Race -23rd August 2014

It was good sailing conditions, if a bit gusty. with 14-22 knots at the start. After much debate and changing of the foresail, it was felt that the J4 would be suitable as we expected the winds to be in the upper teens low twenties for most of the race, we were light aboard with only two and we wanted to give the new J4 it's first proper test.

Unfortunately we were a bit late in the start, which meant that we could not set ourselves up for the part of the line that we wanted, with us starting to leeward of the big boats, which meant we immediately got rolled by the bigger boats... Not the best way to start, but after this we were able to hang on.. and keep the boat going well rounding Harken as out first mark. We already had the pole up at this point so we were first to go with a hoist... with us making good speeds downwind. We were not using the GPS so a bit of a "follow the fleet to the next mark. Problem is that the bigger boats were all sailing with Asymmetric. so that did not help much. So a bit of guessing.. as we were not bothered to do a spot of navigating. Eventually we sighted the righ mark.. and decided to do a weather drop. Problem is we started it was too early. We managed a good rounding and an efficient beat to Milnerton with a reach to Landfall. We debated aboard whether we should hoist the kite as the wind angle was 122 and we felt we could handle it. But as the rest of the fleet had not, we took the easy option. Number 2 was the next mark and then to the finish. On the beat we played a few shifts which helped us make up some time..

We won the race. It was good to be out sailing in a nice breeze and flat water. Boat performed well. Yolo is now leading the Double handed Series, However unlikely to finish the series as she plans to goto Simonstown for the Spring Regatta a bit earlier then usual and therefore will miss some of the races.

Aboard were: Ian and Dale