Winds on the day averaged around 12knots, with gusts up to 20 knots LL kept moving nicely, With a clean hull and diligent crew work we managed an average speed over the shortened course of 5.53 knots. That’s our best speed this winter season! Interestingly Heaven Can Wait clocked the same speed - does this bode well for GBRW? I wonder.
2nd OHC was a good result considering we haven’t been racing for the past two Wednesdays and didn’t accrue any handicap benefits. It would also have been difficult to beat a rampaging Itinerant, they finished 1st and fastest 5m 34s ahead of us and 2m ahead of their nearest rival Eufarria. But we beat six yachts OTL including Lionheart (31s), Aida (1m1s), Ragnar (2m16s) and Beluga (2m43s). Zen and Reflections brought up the rear over 6 minutes behind us.
Our start was a bit average, the NNW winds were swinging all over the place and in these conditions I prefer keeping our distance. Alex got the pole set just after the start and we held our ground with the fleet to the first mark, King. We were in a good position to force rights at the mark but again I preferred to remain clear of the pushing, shoving and shouting (it’ll be on the video). We rounded King behind the pack, only Beluga and Reflections behind us. The beat up to Dolphin West was a good one, yes on the outside, but overtaking a couple of Farr’s. We tacked to Dolphin West well up with the fleet and then had a good reach back to King, holding our position. The beat back to Hallmark also went to plan and we rounded in a good position after some ducking and weaving and now also ahead of Ragnar.
The Day Buoy, in towards Applecross, had been turned Green to indicate a shortened course. Unnecessary from a wind perspective but the club wanted crews back at the bar to celebrate Matt Wearn’s Olympic Gold.
After rounding the Day Buoy tactics came more into play. It is a long beat to the finish and most of the fleet held to port and went to the Eastern side of the course (towards Foam Spit). We tacked onto starboard shortly after the day Buoy, looking to get some height. This I think proved a good decision as we took advantage of some good lifts and were able to cross ahead of both Aida and Huckleberry. In the tacking duel to the finish Huckleberry got past and finished 30 seconds ahead but we held off Lionheart and Aida.
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