MOSSEL BAY RACE 22 September 2017

With a light NW at the start giving a downwind start... Yolo set up for a pin start, gybeing on the pin and blocking Nitro from taking the inside. Immediate Kite set and off Yolo went in around 10 knots of breeze.. sailing to the mid bay region. winds were dying and coming in with puffs.. allowing those behind to make a bit of ground as the race progressed. A gybe was called a few miles into the race... and perhaps a mistake of not gybing back later to cover the fleet instead sailing into a no wind zone till the wind came from behind.. when it did it eventually settled down with a SW.. which came in squalls, the highest was aroudn 30 knots.. which had Yolo flying along quite happily towards Hangklip... nearing Hangklip the wind started to die down.. and an Early shift in the breeze to a Southerly started to happen. Once the breeze settled down, it became a nice fast fetch to Agulhas.. with the boat taking it quite well. Aboard the boat we had a big collection of previous race experience and lots of sailing in this region... and were aware that the Southerly shift happened earlier then expected.. giving concern to a potential longer then planned upwind leg and the related confused sea state.. After much debate aboard and taking into account that the boat would likely need to stay in Mossel Bay for a Week until the next weather window came through to bring the boat back.. the decision was taken to abort the race and head for Gansbaai to spend the night.. with the intention of sailing back the following morning. A nice quick sail to Gansbaai.. Arriving at 5pm.. There were breaks at the one side of the harbour.. but an easy entry... we entered the main harbour first.. then decided to enter the smaller harbour as it was closer to the town.. The breakers were in this area.. we entered the harbour but realized that the surge was too big and potential draft problems once the tide went down.. so went back to the main harbour and rafted up on one of the moored vessels giving us the most comfortable way of mooring vs... being pushed around in the surge near the wall... We had a good curry and spent a good night aboard.... and left the following day on a good weather window for CT. Aboard Were: Dale, Ian and Mark D(DWD) Start Pics by Nic Bothma

DELIVERY CT to Simonstown 9 Sept 2017

Due to time constraints and commitments, the duo of Mark Devit and Thore delivered Yolo to Simonstown. By all accounts a routine delivery, with a bumpy sea to start.. with light winds which necessitating motoring, winds then up to the mid teens with good reaching with a wide berth at SW reefs due to the big break and then reaching into False Bay, where halfway up the winds started to die and back to the engine.. with a respectable time of under 9 hours for a 32 footer. Boat now in False Bay in readiness for the Mossel Bay Race. Abaord were: MArk D and Thore.