Pic, courtesy of Pam Newby
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
MYKONOS RACE
Cape Town to Mykonos:
We started in a light breeze which picked upto about 20 knots a few hundred metres after the start. We reached the weather mark, hoisted kite and based on some local knowledge played the breeze line. Over the next few hours we changed our kite and did lots of gybes in order to keep in the breeze. Shortly after bok Point new breeze can through which had us reaching along with pole on forestay at 7.5-8 knots in flat conditions. We debated with our navigator the prime position to cross the transit at Dassen Island, navigator won the debate. The wind freed a bit as we got closer to the heads, we gybed for the heads and sailed inside Jutten catching the know breeze. Around the corner it was a two sailed fetech to the finish. All in all a great race with us finishing just after 5pm. Not bad for a 60NM race. In the end we won both legs on IRC handicap. We feel this was due to our local knowledge aboard and the constant working to "stay with it".
Bay Race:
Pursuit race having us sail all around the bay of Saldhana. We started in light breeze with us hauling some boats in a bit. The breeze got stronger at the weather mark. On the downwind we were forced tot he wrong side of the course by a starboarder which ultimately cost us the race as we sailed into a no wind zone. We were stuck there for quite some time allowing those that started after us to sail around this zone, effectively ending our chances for a good race, the rest of the race was sailed efficiently with us regaining a few positions... In the end, not a great result.
Overall we won ther Mykonos Offshore Race overall on IRC. Aboard were: Michael, Massimo, Sarel, Hans(from Dubai), Dale, Ian, Tony, Mark, Neville. The boat performed well.
The delivery return comenced straight after prizegiving with Ian, Michael and Mary Ann on the delivery crew. Ian reports a quite windless night with them motoring the whole way. The arrvied very early on Sunday morning.
All pictures courtesy of Neville Sharwood.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Thursday, March 12, 2009
WED NITE 11 March 2009
Nice flat water and a buidling breeze. As the normal Wedneday Series had ended for us and we won it etc.. we chose to sail in a different class. We had a brilliant crew but we had not sailed fully together before with Spinnaker, nevertheless we decided that it would be fun. We started agressively, we thought that the boats around us, uncluding ourselves were over the line so we immediately tried to sail back to the line but did not hear our name called so we sailed on. Unfortunately we now had to contend with the dirty breeze from the bigger boats. This took about 3 minutes to clear so all in all we were already about 2 minutes down. We gybed on the weather mark and did a good hoist but had to contend with a small rap which was quickly resolved with a bit of handy work on the piano. On the beat it took us some time to settle down. As we settled down we started to get the boat going well with us slowly making up while trimming all the time, upwind and downwind. In the end we managed to come 3rd overall for this race. Not to bad. Aboard were: Ian, Siger, Michael, Massimo, Sandy, Elena, Raffaele, Franceco, Sarel,Dale. The only damage sustained was a mainsheet block.
Nice flat water and a buidling breeze. As the normal Wedneday Series had ended for us and we won it etc.. we chose to sail in a different class. We had a brilliant crew but we had not sailed fully together before with Spinnaker, nevertheless we decided that it would be fun. We started agressively, we thought that the boats around us, uncluding ourselves were over the line so we immediately tried to sail back to the line but did not hear our name called so we sailed on. Unfortunately we now had to contend with the dirty breeze from the bigger boats. This took about 3 minutes to clear so all in all we were already about 2 minutes down. We gybed on the weather mark and did a good hoist but had to contend with a small rap which was quickly resolved with a bit of handy work on the piano. On the beat it took us some time to settle down. As we settled down we started to get the boat going well with us slowly making up while trimming all the time, upwind and downwind. In the end we managed to come 3rd overall for this race. Not to bad. Aboard were: Ian, Siger, Michael, Massimo, Sandy, Elena, Raffaele, Franceco, Sarel,Dale. The only damage sustained was a mainsheet block.
Thursday, March 05, 2009
Wed Nite RACE 5
A SE blowing between 17-24knots, nice flat sea. Another mundane course without true runs and only a short beat. We got a good start right on the line with speed, we managed to hold our own on the first leg. On the downwind we sailed a good line allowing us to put some distance on those behind us. On the fectch we were able to hang onto Periwinkle to within 4 boat lenths. This we held to the leeward mark. We were able to get a slightly higher bow angle on the beat and were edging our way forward. Periwinkle had a technical problem which they respolved quickly but this did allow us to sneak through. They sailed hard to try and pass us again but we still managed to cross the finish line 4 seconds ahead of them. We came first overall in this race. Giving us First overall in the series. Aboard were: Ian, Sarel, Siger, Michael, Massimo, Tony, Wanita(Guest), Dale, Neville. Boat performed well with no problems.
A SE blowing between 17-24knots, nice flat sea. Another mundane course without true runs and only a short beat. We got a good start right on the line with speed, we managed to hold our own on the first leg. On the downwind we sailed a good line allowing us to put some distance on those behind us. On the fectch we were able to hang onto Periwinkle to within 4 boat lenths. This we held to the leeward mark. We were able to get a slightly higher bow angle on the beat and were edging our way forward. Periwinkle had a technical problem which they respolved quickly but this did allow us to sneak through. They sailed hard to try and pass us again but we still managed to cross the finish line 4 seconds ahead of them. We came first overall in this race. Giving us First overall in the series. Aboard were: Ian, Sarel, Siger, Michael, Massimo, Tony, Wanita(Guest), Dale, Neville. Boat performed well with no problems.
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
WED NITE Race 4.
Light breeze in the starting area. Difficult for the bridge to determine where the wind will fill in to. We got a great start, fast with clear air. did well to the first mark and held our own on the run. There was a fetch to the next mark where we again held our own and the final run which was very short. Nice sailing, nice flat seas and warm evening. We came second. On board were: Dale, Ian, MAssimo, Elena, Siger, Michael, Sarel and with NEville Sharwood making his debut with us.
Light breeze in the starting area. Difficult for the bridge to determine where the wind will fill in to. We got a great start, fast with clear air. did well to the first mark and held our own on the run. There was a fetch to the next mark where we again held our own and the final run which was very short. Nice sailing, nice flat seas and warm evening. We came second. On board were: Dale, Ian, MAssimo, Elena, Siger, Michael, Sarel and with NEville Sharwood making his debut with us.
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