VASCO RACE (Maputo to Durban)
Kobus left to return to JHB and Thomas Swana joined the boat in Maputo. We started the race at midday or just after as there was no wind at the start(The start is always planned to coincide with the tide). We beat out of the bay following the shipping channel or thereabout as there are shallows and the area can be very tidal. Once out of the bay we sailed for CABO Inhacca which we reached at sunset. The angle started to fee so we could use the spinnaker. Throughout the night the wind and sea increased, by sunrise we had very big seas and winds of approx 35knots. We managed to keep up a big kite and full main at this time. During the morning our highest speed obtained was 21.2knots. After this we decided as the angle had hotted we needed to drop the kite. We damaged the kite in this process. We then skiped along at a very good speed and we were starting to forecast ETA's foe well before sunset. Alas, this was not to be. The wind started to die. Then eventually it came from the SW, increasing at times. The sun set and we were no where near Durban. We had to put in a reef, shortly after this we had to remove it again. We blew two batt cars in the process. We sailed for the shoreline hoping to pick up an early morning breeze. It became very light which allowed us to test our new Code Zero. This sail worked like a wind seeker. Eventually the wind increased allowing us to drop this sail, we then sailed for Durban which we reacked mid morning. It was a great sail with great people. Unfortunately due to the wind shutting off the big boat were able to capitalise on this on IRC. Oh well maybe another time. GREAT SAILING THOUGH..... (Unfortuantely pics were not tasken suring the race, pic enclosed os of the boat just aftetr the start)