Simrad 60 (our race summed up)

Racing in the second simrad 60 was again delayed, this time for 24hrs

(another Gale warning), eventually we got underway on the Sunday.

when we went to put up the mainsail we discovered it had three large rips in

it, this was concerning as the forecast indicated we could expect up to 35

knots of wind. 

Anyway we werent going to give up that easily so we put it up and carried

on, a fairly bad start and a poor performance to the first mark (navy buoy).

The wind was forward of the beam and we were sailing with cracked sheets, we

should have been able to carry a full main in these conditions but even

after putting in two reefs we were overpowered.

Anyway we readied the fractional kite for the next leg - from navy buoy to

gannet rock. We had a few dramas getting it up, including gybing the main

unintentionally.

Around us boats were broaching, one had lost its mast, and there were

several kites that had blown out or been wrapped around the forestay (lets

just say it was a bit windy).

When we got our situation under control we took off, looking behind us we

were no longer coming last and we were quickly gaining on everyone (most of

which were two sail reaching) in front, the ride was exhilirating and the

boat felt in total control, so much so that I cleated off the sheet and had

a rest, right at the back of the boat (to keep the nose up), while Tom

steered. 

We were laying gannet rock and sailing right on the rhumb line, it seemed a

short time before we were at gannet rock, and preparing to drop the kite

(bummer, the fun was over).

Dropping of the kite was copybook, I looked behind to see about 20 boats

rounding gannet together, at this point in the race we were doing very well

indeed.

Then we were hard on the wind to the finish, a long beat. The boat again was

performing poorly and we were making a lot of leeway, and losing speed, all

our good work was soon undone and we found ourselves well back in the fleet

again. 

We ended up getting 5th on handicap in our division out of eleven boats, I

was pleased with this, as the boat was obviously not sailing well to

windward.

Dad is on the case again, and we will probably get a new keel and rudder

made also a new mainsail (the carbon one is rotten), this will mean we wont

sail in the last Simrad, the Simrad 100.

Consolation for Tom and I is sailing ZGY in the final race, ZGY is sailing

very well, so hopefully we can get a better result on it.

And if the modifications are done properly, we will be back on Mixtmotions

soon with competitive potential.