Double handed Race 21 JAn 2017

Nice conditions at the club, but once out on the water, a very strong SSE wind... A quick test beat confirmed this, so a reef put in and a smaller jib selected, Getting a fair start, but very overpowered going to Paarden Island, ONce around a bear waway for Blouberg Mark, all set up for a kite hoist, but the wind was in the thirties, so decided as no one else had hoisted, not to hoist the kite. Poled out the jib and worked the boat on the downwind... whiole clearing away all the kite gear... The highest wind was 41 knots in a gust.. Managed to get to the leeward mark first, hardened up and sailed closer to the beach, then tacked, the larger boat in our class slowly pulled away on the long upwind... winds were in the uppoer 20's and early 30's.. and there was a steep chop on the bay, making it wet, bumpy sailing... once around the weather mark and a beam reach to the finish. First place in Class. Aboard: Dale