As I Saw (and remembered) It

The day started with a cracking high tide, heading towards 2.27m as we launched the boats in the pen and walked up hill and out to the marina. Always fun to walk up hill on a high tide!

There were quite a few crew changes this weekend with many away for the St Helena cup, still, nice to see most of the boats launched, especially on a such a windy day. Usual shenanigans in the bar proceeded a wet and wild ride out to the race track. Two crews (Dave 1365, and Jason 876) decided to save their boats and rigging (& eyes?) for another day and sailed home before the prep signal.

Race 1 started off with Brad clearly planning to OWN the pin. Pato about a boat length up the line and the rest of the fleet more towards the boat end. Helen started well at the boat end. Brad, Brad and Grant must have been eating their wheaties for breakfast or else they might have been on weight because they were off like a rocket in front of everyone else, and they were able to tack and cross Pato and also team Helen.

Pato tacked and ducked Helen heading back to the right while Helen went further left on a left hand track pushing hard and nailing the corner just right. Coming into the top mark Helen was looking famous – she was almost able to cross Brad, but elected to duck rather than lee-bow, playing it safe, which turned out to be the right call… so… Brad first around the top mark, Helen second Pato third closely followed by Dane and Gary all pretty close. Not bad racing in 20 knots.

Downhill is where things started to get interesting in this race. Pato’s celebrity sheet-hand, Ben Pato nailed his first etchell kite set in 3 years and we were all over the top of Brad, sitting right in his air all the way down the square and catching quickly. Unfortunately for Helen and her team they had a few issues with the kite and were passed by Pato.

It’s fair to say that both Patos had a grins from ear to ears as we passed Brad, and managed to drop the kite without too much trouble and made it around the bottom mark in good shape heading out to the favoured left side, with Helen not far back.

Bradly had kite issues on the drop and at one point decided the forestay would look better with a spinnaker wrapped around it, but recovered well and got the show back on the road to keep sailing but a fair way back.

Dane decided to catch a few prawns near the bottom mark, and since unsuccessful, didn’t have another go with the kite. I also heard they lost their wind chook! It must have been a bit windy?

Team Helen did well to stay in front of Brad and (even extend her lead?) in any case a great effort on a windy day and surely one to remember.

After that it was pretty much a one way track with no passing lanes. Pato First, Helen second, Brad third and the other guys a little further back.

Race 2 started without team Gary on the Project as they broke their vang between races.

Once again Brad wanted to left end of the start line with Al driving Aspen next up and Pato above that.  Team Helen again started up near the boat. I’ve got to say that Pato nailed this start as he was 3 boat lengths to windward of everyone and was spot on the line, clear start! I remember looking straight down under the boom at 1130 about 3 boat lengths abeam when the gun went off. Yah!

Brad was fast though, you could see he was gaining on us – NGHAM was both higher and faster than 921 and unfortunately for Aspen who got squished as they were rolled by 921 and lee-bowed by Bradley in 1130. Meanwhile team Helen kept doing their best to stay out of the fray a few boat lengths to windward.

This race was a one way drag race out to the left corner. Who ever made it to the corner first, and nailed the layline would be first to the top mark. Bad luck for Brad and his jib tabs let go from the head down, ruining his race and he pulled out, leaving the battle to Helen and Pato on a one way track.

Pato was first to the top mark and with a great kite set and subsequent drop, a long way in front of everyone else who elected to play it safe and 2 sail reach for the rest of the day.

Well done to Helen, Kristy and Mal who had her best day on the water so far and almost first to the top mark in the first race. Improving all the time! Oh, and some guy called Dave, who no doubt provided great encouragement all the way around the track. Great job guys!

Bonus points of the day to Ben Pato for offering Bradley plenty of advice on our return to the harbour. Classic! It just goes to show how much Bradly relies on Spotto as he was clearly missed 🙂

Will, out