Richmond Summer Series: Race 7: Quite windy

It was windy, it was rough, and it rained. Perfect sailing weather. I was very slow in reminding everyone, or organising other crew - this year has started with extra chaos for some reason...

Course 3

North Head - Bastion, Torpedo, around again, Resolution and home. Not a bad course but very blustery and a bit lumpy out at North Head. We were caught at the North Head Buoy first time, with a big tide ripping in, we had to abort the rounding to avoid touching the buoy. We weren't the only ones either. A nor-easter so we flew home, and with the tide coming in the water had flattened off too.

The Crew

John (Skipper), Nicola, Tim and Oscar.

The Start

So windy that the gun wasn't used. I thought the division flag drop was the 1 minute signal. Duh. We were at the wrong end to start, as I thought we had a minute to go. Not a great start then.

Progress

Off we went fighting up from the wrong end, and soon passed by the Y88's charging through. We seemed to be catching up a little, but with the aborted North Head Buoy we were definitely behind the others. Then on our next rounding of the Torpedo Buoy we were not good enough to make the tack and ended up having to tack again to get inside the mark, and again. The rest of the race was a bit lonely. We did crack 10 knots up the harbour, so going home was a bit of a buzz.

The Result

Last in, but not too late for burgers at the clubrooms.

When we got back to the dock we noticed water inside the boat. Because we had been right over we had aggravated an old injury to one of the stantions and it has punched a hole in the deck - letting in water when on a port tack. I hope I have sealed it enough to stop more water coming inside while I arrange a proper repair. I think if I just get a large wad of $20 bills and stuff them in there, the leak will stop...