Hi Matt,
a very short regatta, blown out Sat. came home late yesterday guessing today would be blown out also. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
Not many entries Frid. more turned up after racing finished for Sat. but couldn't sail too windy. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />
From memory Frid. Entries 6 Mossies one with spinnaker,3 A class,2 cat rig Taipans no spinnakers, "Altered", 3 Paper Tigers, Hobie 16.
First race, gusty 5-15 kts. shifting 45 degrees erraticly <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />.Course was 3 triangles 2 windward and returns, not ideal for spinnakers. "Altered" battled with Dennis on Taipan first beat, he was first around mark. Then "Altered" and "Faye" A class battled rest of race for lead. "Altered" made big gains on windward and return, but there where not enough of them, the A was to quick on the reaches, "Altered" rounded last leeward mark ahead but The A was lifted one tack to the finish "Altered " had to tack putting me second with Dennis on the Taipan not far behind.
Second race same course, wind 10-20kts. still shifty. The A was late at the start leaving Dennis on Taipan and Floyd's Sloop Mossie fighting for lead on first beat, "Altered" was getting all the shifts wrong and back in the pack. "Altered" quickly got back to the lead Taipan off the wind and made some enormous gains on the returns <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />. Dennis on Taipan gained on reaches on the last triangle, as "Altered" pulled the spinnaker up and down at least twice each reach <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />. "Altered" still had lead of a couple of minutes up the last beat but capsized <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />. In a big gust which was lifting. Leaving Dennis on the Taipan to take the lead and Me . <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />
Isn't sailing fun? No excuses just wasn't good enough. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />
Good social night Friday plenty of time to chat, sitting around in shorts and T shirt till 11pm. Midnight wind came up sailors got up and tied boats down etc. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> Wind built all night, by daylight it looked un sailable, A class not tied down blew over and broke mast <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />. But club had other ideas reckoned it was only blowing 22 kts. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> Old A class went out got back in one piece, but never pulled the sail in, skipper said he was just glad to get back. Lasers went out one broke mast and was planing back with top mast dangling in the water, one couldn't tack rescue boat had to help him, better Laser made it unscathed.
Wind continued to pick up so I packed up. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> Long Drive ahead 6&1/2 hours up via Melb. . <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> Went back over the Mountains <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" /> Passed the Fires just saw smoke and burnt ground <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> only took 4&1/2 hours <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />.
Regards Gary. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />