Today we joined in an experiment. Momentum with Barry, Ray and Richard L aboard, Rosstered Off with Jim Dave, Richard H and Shaun and Frou Frou with Andy, Wayne and me aboard were on the water to help with testing a short back to back race course format for the upcoming Cat regatta in March.
The strong north easterly made it tough for the crews setting up the course and doing the starts and finishes. Thanks to Paul Jack, Tony and Jodi for taking on this difficult role today.
It was a very boisterous conditions for the first start, and as it turned out things didn’t go quite to plan for any of us TY’s. Just after Frou Frou crossed the start line the mainsail tack came loose from the tack. We spent quite a lot of time preventing any damage and re-lashing it to the mast. At this point we continue racing but to our surprise Rosstered Off had starting late and Momentum had not yet started and was hovering behind the start line. We figured that given the problems we had perhaps Rosstered off and Momentum had also experiencing difficulties that had delayed them.
That first triangle of the first race went quickly for us with Rosstered Off just ahead and Momentum now started, some way behind us. Even the windward and return leg was going OK for the TY fleet. That is until the fickle finger of fate intervened on the final jibe for Frou Frou when her mainsheet traveller smashed of the end of the track leaving her with little control of the main. Rosstered Off and Frou Frou did finish but shortly after that the finish line was moved before Momentum had an opportunity to cross. Without a main sheet traveller Frou Frou retired and headed back to shore. It felt like a lot of work for less than an hour all up on the water.
Apparently the second race went off without a hitch, with Momentum and Rosstered Off, the only TYs remaining, left to do battle.
I must admit that the beer back at the club tasted very good and there was plenty of race debriefing material to talk about as well.
After discussing the circumstances and confusion around today’s first race start was decided to abandon race one and count race 2 only in today’s results.
I hope you will all make the effort to get crew and have your boats on the water for Saturday.