The forecast was SW 8(12) kts wind, backing to S and dying to 2 kts by 2100. We expected racecourse 5 and a possible shortening.
During the whole race, the wind was as forecasted.
We started from the middle of the line, already preparing for the spinnaker, and were the first boat to cross the line. Hoisted promptly and headed straight to the G mark. Panu witnessed that 30 seconds after the start, we were 2 boat lengths ahead of Minnamari. The glory didn't last long since Minnamari passed us like we were at anchor. The rest of the first leg went calmly; the spinnaker fleet astern looked beautiful. We saw Sans Rival and Lucky Too engaged in a spinnaker lifting game, and it looked like Sans Rival was able to defend her position.
Rounded the G and headed to the orange-flagged mark. It was unexpectedly difficult to find it in the landscape, and we were glad (some sarcasm here) to have Minnamari to show the way. We saw Sans Rival and Lucky Too fighting for position at the G mark, and it looked like Lucky Too had to tack. It didn't look like a significant loss, though.
The rest of the first lap was not adventurous; Lucky Too was slowly closing from behind; we were wondering if the race would end or continue. Then we saw Minnamari hoisting the spinnaker and braced for the DNF impact. The second lap, however, was as quick as the first one. Less wind but more gusts, and the average lap speeds were more or less the same.
Ariel and Lucky Too passed us just before the end of the lap. We decided not to engage with Lucky Too too much and let them pass forward with a minimal loss for us. Ariel passed below us. At the rounding mark, we were 4-5 boat lengths behind Lucky Too.
A fast spinnaker hoist, and we headed to the G again. We had a smooth surface and a few gusts and were able to gain a boat length or two on the boats ahead. By this time, the wind has backed about 30 degrees.
The upwind leg had very patchy wind, and we quickly tacked to the right side of the course, looking for the wind. Lucky Too also chose the right side while Ariel continued to the left corner. The next no-wind patch was small, and we bravely crossed it while Lucky Too tacked again. To the upwind mark, we came shortly after Lucky Too and Ariel, proving that the right side of the course was favorable.
Because of the wind shift, we hoisted the spinnaker and were flying it till the N-S cardinal marks gate. Lucky Too and Ariel were just ahead of us, and we were wondering if Minnamari already finished, which she probably did.
After the N-S gate, it was sidewinded, so we went on G1 all the way to the finish. Only one boat from the FR1 class has passed us before the line.
We were 4th in the line of honors and 2nd in the result table. Not that bad after all those fears of DNF like it happened with this racecourse and dying wind before.
Many thanks to the Race Committee and to the competitors.
Statistics: Posted by alex — Thu Aug 18, 2022 09:00 am