Big Boat Report
Guest User
written by Jonathan Stone
Four boats committed to the race, on a breezy and cold spring afternoon. The wind was south-easterly gusting up to 25 knots. On Time & Tide we set up our #3 headsail - our smallest - knowing that when the breeze is heavy the secret of speed is boat management.
We were a bit late getting to the boat (Mat had run the 10km Bridge run earlier in the morning) but we did a quick rig, slipped our mooring - and were quickly in trouble. Long story short - my inattention - we ran over a tender on a mooring. its painter wrapped around our rudder; the little boat capsized, outboard and all and then clung to our stern. It took a lot of help and time before the problem was sorted.
So, T&T missed the start even though it was delayed; Lonny, G-Force and Smitten all raced. Smitten was leading at the first and second marks, with Lonny and the late-starting G-Force close to each other but being outpaced by Smitten in the big breeze.
Smitten mistakenly went to the wrong top mark at Sow’n Pigs, allowing G-Force to take the lead. They held it to the end, from Smitten and then Lonny.
Across the line I have:
G-Force
Smitten
Lonny
A challenging, sunny, very breezy and cold afternoon. I do accept global warming but on some afternoons, it is more difficult to do so than on others.