Double Handed Race 3 December 2016

A South Wester was foretasted with varied wind speed prediction. Getting a good start, on speed, it was clear that the breeze would be stronger then set up for.. so a few adjustments on the beat to keep the boat going through the chop... with us being able ot hang in with a larger boat, playing the shifts where possible as we headed to Barker rock as the first mark.. Halfway up the beat, the winds softened, so gear changing.. and on the look for fresher breeze and shifts eventually rounding the mark in second place, but a problematic hoist relegated us to third. a nice downwind leg down the Sea Point coastline, putting in a early gybe.. as we got past Moullie Point the winds freshened... and then started gusting in the late 20's and once 30 knot range.. giving us nice speeds, we put in a gybe for the lay, but the gusts kept coming with shifts... the boats in front had already dropped their kites due to this, we decided to take the conservative approach and also strike.. with us goose swinging the remainder of the leg.. followed by rounding up just behind the second boat for the beat... which started in winds in the high 20's.. Fortunately the seas were flat.. Next to Number 2 and then the finish.. Nice race, flat seas and good breeze.. Came first in class. Aboard were: Dale and Ian.