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!
On Wednesday night we travel to the club for a directors meeting, to find that Pat’s new self furler is not working, and the Genoa had to be hand wrapped, a problem that had to be fixed prior to Saturdays race.
Arriving at the club we find a happy Pat and Mitch, who have worked for 3.5 hours to repair the furler. Mitch’s thighs may have received a hiding today, But I will leave that alone.
The breeze is blowing a fresh East sou Easter, just what the reports predicted. This will be an interesting day to see what the big boys throw up today, our selection will be easy, and do we move the mast? Tighten the rig? Or all of above or sit back and enjoy the breeze with a cool ale in hand.
Speed as usual says don’t slow us down, do not depower early, we can do it as required later if needed, so steady as we go, to the 10 minute gun when division 3 take off with Farrgo getting a cracking good start, however Carolyn was not up to her usual standard crossing 3rd.
Once the 5 minute signal sounds we hoist our Jib, and watch the big boys. To see LOEG raise their mighty number 2 genoa, how long is that taking we ask each other? Have the girls a problem? No, then its raised and they prepare for the start, but over on Still Festering, Pats fun Has just begun, as he tries to un furl his number 2, only for it to jam after 1 twist. It’s a real shame when things like this happen to your competitor with minutes to go for the start. We have another swig to celebrate.
The 1 minute horn sounds we approach the rowers with good positioning with LOEG to leeward, and SF drifting toward Cabarita trying to unfurl his headsail. The start Flag is dropped and the horn sounds, we are off with good speed and wind, but the horsepower of LOEG sees the girls pull away, with a run out tide (no grey matter needed, perfect for them). We then do a number of good tacks picking a couple of great lifts to see us again near the tuck of our friends LOEG. Sailing two different courses, we approach LOEG coming off the shore past Searl’s, It’s so painful to see your friends have to tack away, because they cannot cross your bow, a real shame! Willo now drops his bow, picks up speed and sails away, their embarrassment plain for all to see as we thump our barrel like chests in pride.
As we approach mark no 6 which spinnaker do we hoist? We decide to go for safely due to the pressure and angle. LOEG round a minute in front and we hoist the spinnaker, we are off to catch the LOEG, who are still working to get theirs up!!!! once they have the spinnaker set, off down the river they go. Still Festering is now in Abbotsford Bay and chasing us, will this big boy catch us today. We sail a good race keeping LOEG in our sight all the way to number 1 at Morrison Bay. Working now for 5 in Abbotsford Bay we notice the LOEG have done a head sail change, it would be a luxury to have more than one sail to choose from. These boys want the prize today, I have never seen a downwind headsail change on this boat in 10 years what’s going on Willo?
Round the mark and we continue to chase Willo, however nothing much changes from here, as the horsepower of LOEG offsets the tactical genius of AE in the run out tide. At every mark Pat is getting closer on SF. But wait as we round mark 1 for the long work back to 6 we notice another headsail change on LOEG, this is insanity! Have the girls taken testosterone along with their lattes today? What’s happening on that boat?
As we sail past Abbotsford we are concerned that a police boat is alongside Farrgo, we change course to make sure all is ok. Barry had stopped racing, to report a motor cruiser that nearly took him out, with this incident costing Barry the race. The number of “crazies” on the water seems to be increasing each week. Maybe we need George and Sumo to come back and chase them around in the runabout, lassoing them as they used to do with the jet skis that used to give us all a hard time As we approach the Gladesville Bridge the water police have the offending boat pulled over, which was good to see. LOEG is round and about 3 minutes in front as we round and hoist the small kite again in a softening breeze which would have hit 20kn in gust. We round the final mark 3, in France Bay with division 3 winner Roustabout, and head for home we get a nice lift and make Cabarita without taking making valuable time. Sailing out of the Bay we pass Still Festering, Who now would be 6 minutes behind. He has sailed well today picking up at least 20 minutes. God help us slow boats in division 1 when SF is sorted out.
Cheers Barry
Arriving at the club we find a happy Pat and Mitch, who have worked for 3.5 hours to repair the furler. Mitch’s thighs may have received a hiding today, But I will leave that alone.
The breeze is blowing a fresh East sou Easter, just what the reports predicted. This will be an interesting day to see what the big boys throw up today, our selection will be easy, and do we move the mast? Tighten the rig? Or all of above or sit back and enjoy the breeze with a cool ale in hand.
Speed as usual says don’t slow us down, do not depower early, we can do it as required later if needed, so steady as we go, to the 10 minute gun when division 3 take off with Farrgo getting a cracking good start, however Carolyn was not up to her usual standard crossing 3rd.
Once the 5 minute signal sounds we hoist our Jib, and watch the big boys. To see LOEG raise their mighty number 2 genoa, how long is that taking we ask each other? Have the girls a problem? No, then its raised and they prepare for the start, but over on Still Festering, Pats fun Has just begun, as he tries to un furl his number 2, only for it to jam after 1 twist. It’s a real shame when things like this happen to your competitor with minutes to go for the start. We have another swig to celebrate.
The 1 minute horn sounds we approach the rowers with good positioning with LOEG to leeward, and SF drifting toward Cabarita trying to unfurl his headsail. The start Flag is dropped and the horn sounds, we are off with good speed and wind, but the horsepower of LOEG sees the girls pull away, with a run out tide (no grey matter needed, perfect for them). We then do a number of good tacks picking a couple of great lifts to see us again near the tuck of our friends LOEG. Sailing two different courses, we approach LOEG coming off the shore past Searl’s, It’s so painful to see your friends have to tack away, because they cannot cross your bow, a real shame! Willo now drops his bow, picks up speed and sails away, their embarrassment plain for all to see as we thump our barrel like chests in pride.
As we approach mark no 6 which spinnaker do we hoist? We decide to go for safely due to the pressure and angle. LOEG round a minute in front and we hoist the spinnaker, we are off to catch the LOEG, who are still working to get theirs up!!!! once they have the spinnaker set, off down the river they go. Still Festering is now in Abbotsford Bay and chasing us, will this big boy catch us today. We sail a good race keeping LOEG in our sight all the way to number 1 at Morrison Bay. Working now for 5 in Abbotsford Bay we notice the LOEG have done a head sail change, it would be a luxury to have more than one sail to choose from. These boys want the prize today, I have never seen a downwind headsail change on this boat in 10 years what’s going on Willo?
Round the mark and we continue to chase Willo, however nothing much changes from here, as the horsepower of LOEG offsets the tactical genius of AE in the run out tide. At every mark Pat is getting closer on SF. But wait as we round mark 1 for the long work back to 6 we notice another headsail change on LOEG, this is insanity! Have the girls taken testosterone along with their lattes today? What’s happening on that boat?
As we sail past Abbotsford we are concerned that a police boat is alongside Farrgo, we change course to make sure all is ok. Barry had stopped racing, to report a motor cruiser that nearly took him out, with this incident costing Barry the race. The number of “crazies” on the water seems to be increasing each week. Maybe we need George and Sumo to come back and chase them around in the runabout, lassoing them as they used to do with the jet skis that used to give us all a hard time As we approach the Gladesville Bridge the water police have the offending boat pulled over, which was good to see. LOEG is round and about 3 minutes in front as we round and hoist the small kite again in a softening breeze which would have hit 20kn in gust. We round the final mark 3, in France Bay with division 3 winner Roustabout, and head for home we get a nice lift and make Cabarita without taking making valuable time. Sailing out of the Bay we pass Still Festering, Who now would be 6 minutes behind. He has sailed well today picking up at least 20 minutes. God help us slow boats in division 1 when SF is sorted out.
Cheers Barry
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