ROUND ROBBEN ISLAND RACE
This is a pusuit race. You also get to choose whioch way to round the island which gives an interesting permentation to the whole race. Two other identical Farrs started with us. We were first out the blocks. Nice South Easter, kite up, nice sailing but we were aware of the wind switch up ahead. We sailed well but perhaps carried the kite too long before hotting up. We rounded the island well but then overstood the island giving it a too wider a berth whcih also cost. The rest of the leg was a soldiers course but we then entered a hole close tot he finish line. We were doing well at this point and well ahead of those that rounded the island in the opposite direction. We spent a long time in the hole. While this was happening the boats that rounded in the opposite direction were able to sail a lower course keeping them in good breeze the whole way. We eventually got the breeze and finished. Our position was 14th in the end. Winds were varied but the highest was mid teens. Sea was flattish. Aboard were: Dale, Michael, Siger, Massimo, Francesco, Spook, Tony. Boat performed well. No problems.

WED NITE- RACE:1, 14th October 2009
First race of the new series and of the new season. We had a reasonable start and did fairly well to the weathermark. We sailed the downwind a bit lower then the fleet with us losing out a bit as they picked up the new puffs first. Good rounding at the leeward mark with us having to concentrate on making up some time. It was lightish conditions with a slop. We struggled for dirve in the boat. In the end we managed a 4th on corrected time. Aboard were: Dale, Ian, Siger, Michael, Sarel, Neville. Boat went well.

WED NITE FUN RACE
With the new season upon us, the first Wednesday night race was a fun race(not part of the series). There was a light breeze of between 6-11knots and a bit of a slop which does not help.
We got an excellent start on the line in the best place, our sisterships were way off the mark. We managed to round the first bouy first ahead of the faster boats and poled out for Milnerton mark. The rest of the fleet rounded and tired to two sail reach for the mark, we were the only ones to use the pole which we carried till almost at the mark. We pulled a lot using the pole on the downwind. We rounded and beat back to the weather mark suffering a bit in the slop and the lulls with one of the faster boats steadily closing the gap on us.. We still managed to round weather mark first and cross the finish line first. We won on handicap. Aboard were: Dale, Ian,Dennis, Massimo, Sarel. The boat performed well. Everyone was pleased to be sailing again.

BACK SAILING
After almost 4 months of HP not sailing due to other committements and a Deck Respray job that was done at a snails pace and in fact the finishing touches are still in progress we finally did a quick " sea trial" last week in rain and about 25 knots of wind with a confused sea.. NW wind, SW swell. Boat performed well. This was followed up by an idealic sail around the new wreck on Dolphin Beach the follwing week. We experienced no problem sailing around and in fact it would make a good anchorage in the lee in certain conditions.. Boat is looking really good and feels more modern and new again... NICE