Yesterday was a great day out on the water in one of those lovely sunny but crisp Wellington winter days. It was also quite hard work.
We started Race 3 of the Moore Wilson’s Winter Series in a light (barely 5kn) southerly which fizzled and shifted on the start so the fleet could barely fetch the pin and a couple of boats almost missed the start time limit. I got us off to a bad start with about half the fleet ahead of us.
Most of fleet tacked early to port and over to the western side of Evans Bay (received wisdom, better wind there) and kind of looked liked heroes until they didn’t. We held out on starboard to go up the middle of the bay just for clear air (received wisdom, don’t do this).
But it worked out for us in a fickle breeze that was often below 5 knots but which rotated in our favour. So we approached the top mark in about 7th place. Coming in on the port lay line we had Stolen on starboard. We dipped then poked it up hard. Stolen crossed then immediately tacked but had little way on so there was a coming together (they should’ve kept that protection on board) – much consternation and pointed discussion. Stolen rounded ahead of us but behind the Young 88s 88 Proof and Incantare, and Farr 1020 Bouncing Back ahead of them.
Past the mark we did our turns for the collision as Stolen sailed on and started their kite hoist. Then they took their turns but with a partly-hoist kite it wasn’t so clean and we got ahead. We passed Incantare and Bouncing Back on the run, with 88 Proof still out in front, behind Revs, Blink, and St Laurence. We split from Stolen because I saw better breeze (as in, there was some) into the bottom mark from the right hand side. But 88 Proof and Stolen got a little puff coming around Point Jerningham from the left. 88 Proof rounded first. We had to do a couple of quick gybes to keep clear of Stolen on starboard and rounded a length behind them, but they had a bad drop and we got the inside control and went ahead.
Near Point Jerningham the breeze knocked again so went back to the left and the middle of the bay. Stolen came with us, closing the gap as it got lighter. But with the black Evolution jib we were able to keep working a high mode and squeezed them with dirty air. The breeze lifted a couple of clicks to around 8 knots which was enough to get the keel working and Stolen slipped further astern.
Now it was only 88 Proof in front but Whistler was looking dangerous in the same water as us now. Westy pipped us on the line in the last last race so we had to shut that door. Approaching the top mark we both had to do a wiggle to clear Revs coming down with their gennaker in a tangle.
We eventually passed 88 Proof on the run and stretched to lead our ‘Div 2’ group to the bottom for the last time. Whistler had a crack at Stolen, but couldn’t take them.
The breeze freshened for the beat up to the finish (the forecast southerly blow making its appearance). The course was shortened at the top mark, but the configuration was such that we had to round the mark to port and bear away through the finish between the mark and the committee boat nearby (very nearby) – a downwind finish at the windward mark.
We tacked at the mark to lay through then bear away, but got a puff and didn’t ease the vang quickly enough and I had to throw in a tactical broachette to avoid hitting the finish boat (done it once, don’t want to do it again.) A scruffy tack and gybe got us across the line 4th overall behind the ‘Div 1’ boats and just two minutes ahead of Stolen, then 88 Proof, then Whistler.
Then we had pies.