Posted on Friday 15 August 2008
Race one today and it was the double cones race, straight out of Pioneer Bay due north to Double Cones Island, around the island and straight back in. 19 nautical miles in a straight line. There was no breeze at the scheduled start time of 11:30 am so we drifted around for 2 hours waiting for the new breeze to force it way in. Frustrating and a very long wait. There was good breeze out to sea but it took forever to push out the land breeze.
Our start was ok but we went too far left up the first (short ) work. Then it was a very long 2 sail reach out to Double Cones - too tight to get a kite up and yet not upwind so it is just all bound up and horrible to sail. We got the kite up around the back of the island then sailed into a really huge wind shadow around the back of the island. We took the same line as many others but we had some big boats come over us and we just had nothing to get out of it. Other boats just in front of us seemed to get out of the hole a lot better.
Then we just had a very, very, very long one board beat all the way home. The first mile was like being in a washing machine with very confused sea - just yukky. Then it smoothed out a bit and we could start to stretch out. But in the end, we just got hammered in the results. 2nd last on handicap. Disappointing but it was nice to be out on the water.
Tomorrow we have 2 windward / leeward races in the bay. Hopefully the breeze will be more steady and we may have a better day of it.
Just have to wait and see. Of to Kaito’s house for lasagne - need to bulk up, we could have done with another 100 kg on the rail.
Cheers
Duppy.
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