After reading last week’s report re Pat and his no ice episode, I was beside myself with laughter, How could this occur, 2 people 2 bags of ice and both left behind, Well things happens in 3 and Pats week of bad luck had just begun!
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A keen 15knot easterly greeted us for the first leg to Lukes, low tide 4.09pm, no3 jib sailing, perfect conditions.
At the start FGO hit the line on time and with speed like a bat out of hell and footed fast across the river on starboard, pursued by RBO to windward and then XWP with AFB unusually lagging a bit, short-handed. The day began with a typical summer NSW Sydney harbour forecast a 15 to 20 Knt NE sea breeze for our trip up to South Head YA rounding mark. The three normal antagonists lined up for our trek up the harbour (SF, LEOG & AE).
Long course series race 2 up to Taylors Bay and back – 8-16knt noreaster which had a lot of east in it, and swung and gusted a bit. High tide 4.39pm, super sailing conditions.
AFB won the start nicely at mid line followed to windward by FGO and RBO – XWP trailing unusually – and the sprint on starboard to the first tack was on. What better way to end the week than with a Special Trophies Race? After a 41 degree Friday, Saturday dawned overcast with scattered light showers, 23 degrees and cool southerly winds forecasted at 25 knots by race time.
The day started with the threat of freshening south winds down the harbour. Observations before the start though put us in two minds about which headsail to use. A few judicious web checks determined it was #2 weather, so that was that sorted.As usual, all three yachts had a slightly different line to hit the start on.
It didn’t feel much like the start of Summer as the rain trickled down the back of my neck on the start line.
Over on the Still Festering Patrick was breaking in another new skipper – affirmative action is alive and well on that Boat. Presumably Pat himself was busy down below getting the shiny new spinnaker pole ready for the first run. It’s getting a bit monotonous writing these reports every week…..
But I digress. On the water last Saturday you would have all noticed that after the previous week’s missive, the Axis of Evil crew were goaded into making a bit of an effort – with three matching shirts. As covered in the division 3 report it was to be a race where correct sail selection would win the day. With our own “Larry Ellisons” on board LOEG and Still Festering having multiple “hi tech” sail wardrobes from which to choose, it is a difficult task for even these masters of the river to get correct. On the Axis however, it’s quite simple, just drag the same sails out from under the deck and throw them up the big stick! Makes for much easier prerace planning and hydration sessions!
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