Hi all,
This is a copy of my post from Mossie site but thought some may be interested.
As Tim said a great weekend perfect camping and family weather, just got a bit windy (understatement) <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> Sunday arvo. Mossies consisted of Tim S and Peter N cat rig, Neil J and Philip W/S sloop rigged all with spinnakers. Pity no NSW/ACT Mossies made it <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />. The division included me on F16 "Altered" and 2 Hobie 17's, numbers of cats where down this year <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />.
All races consisted of 3 triangles 2 windward and returns.
First race Sat. was the best <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> in my opinion, reasonably consistant wind max 15kts? 1m swell and a little chop, F16 lead all the way, finishing 1/2 a beat ahead of Tim who won on yardstick, think Peter was second followed by Neil and Philip.
Second race wind went further North making it gustier the lulls where lower but peaks higher. Chop also built up with swell close to right angle getting bigger. F16 first home with Neil working out the sloop rig bits and wind shifts to be not far behind, with Tim clear of a very close finish between Peter and Philip. Conditions tested most but all survived <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />. Philip commented on seeing how well the sloop rig with spinnaker went downwind, in the hands of an experienced spinnaker sailor, Neil. I didn't get much time to look around on the F16 but he wasn't far behind at the end.
Sunday first race wind was gusting to 25 kts. With swell 1.5 m and chop heavy. Again wind was well north very gusty and shifty. F16 lead of port tack start, <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> with Tim close behind, sloops where snoozing <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> at other end of line. Shifts turned reaches into runs and returns into reaches, F16 capsized first return with spinnaker up <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />. I had trouble getting kite in chute, Tim was half a lap ahead by the time I got back up, luckily <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Neil and Peter had been swimming also. Tim was first home followed by Philip with F16 closing fast with Neil next and Peter sodiering on to finish despite many swims.
Sunday arvo it was time to head to the start, the crews on the sloops mutinied, something about flying around the front of the bows to often <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />, so Neil and Philip where busy pulling bits off as F16 and Peter headed to the start. Out from the breakwater the wind was howling <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> around 30kts, swell was up around 2.5 m <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />. F16 was the only cat on the line thanks to Peter getting tied up with a Hobie17 <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />. Gun went I pulled in the main, the traveller rope parted so I decided to head back in as I didn't know how I could sail downwind anyway, Peter followed, we passed Tim, Neil and Philip on their way out <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />. They did half a lap and pulled out as the race was called off. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> None the less the cancelled race was the one talked about the most, I will let the others tell you their stories. By the way Mossies killed the Hobie 17's only seeing them when Mossies capsized.
Tim won handicap overall from Neil with F16 third. Lots of prizes taken home, just a great weekend, it may not sound like it but there is something about sailing on Twofold Bay it is just brilliant. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
P.S. Peter "Altered" beam bolt held out no worries, it only breaks at Somers <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />.
Regards Gary. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />