MBR 2016 (Mossel Bay Race)

With the original course, now back into play.. it was to prove some great racing. Start was on time, YOLO getting a good start on the downwind start line, followed by a few gybes as one tried to wend one’s way out of False Bay while still maintaining the breeze. The breeze eventually shifting and leaving Yolo in a dead wind patch for a period.. then down the coast.. the sea state was up with a fair amount of slop requiring one to sail higher then intended in order to keep the downwind sails filled to maximum. Perfect for A Sails.. Generally a rhumb line was sailed to Agulhas changing sails to suit the wind shifts, the plan was to sail offshore for a while after Agulhas and then gybe on the expected windshift and then make rhumbline for Mossel Bay, gybing again on the next shift.. this worked out according to plan. There was never a moment that we were not in range of another boat, so it kept one on one’s toes.. and the race was short enough to be in rough range of the faster boats. Yolo completed the race in 35 hours, fifty three minutes. Mossel Bay went out of their way to ensure a seamless arrival and opened their facilities to all.. All went well aboard. Aboard were: Dale and Ian. No problems aboard.