Michael and I lined up for the race at Cleveland Yacht Club along with a large fleet including A Class, Nacra 5.8, 4.5, 16 square, maricat 5.0, hobie 16, getaways and an F18.

The other divisions had dinghies, skiffs and yachts.

We had 10 - 15 knots at start and a clear, warm autumn day, I was sailing 2 up sloop with Hamish and Michael was cat rig with both of us running our kites.

All the cats started together although we were split into a number of divisions.

Us mossies were up against the F18 - huh? - it came down to being the spinnaker division as we were the only three with kites.

The course for us 'big boats' was 2 laps around Peel Island in Moreton Bay which is approximately 20 nm.

This included a number of long reaches and / or downwind which let us make good use of the kites.

The F18 simply dissappeared off into the distance from the start and we mixed it with the rest of the fleet.

I am still getting the hang of the kite and had some heavy steering as my rudders lift slightly at speed which needs fixing as my arms cannot hold the load in the gusts which causes me to dump let along say get on trapeze under kite.

Even with that we simply sailed past most of the fleet under kite to the next upwind leg and rounded with the first cats of the mixed fleet.

Michael had a drama with his kite getting pulled out of the chute into the water on an upwind section and wrapping around his rudders and basically stopping him dead for awhile which sort of ruined his race.

The wind eased a little as we came around the North side on the second lap but then a rain squall came through with perhaps 20 knots which made for heavy going back upwind but it passed and we had lighter winds for the reach back across the South side.

Finished under kite after another long downwind, Michael was a bit further back after his kite misadventure.

We ended up 2nd and 3rd after the F18.

It was a great days sailing and we had a ball plus came away with a few prizes for our efforts.

Full marks to CYC for putting on a top regatta which was well organised.

Cheers,