It was beautiful sunny morning with a fresh breeze of 25kts from the East NE , some say gusting more like 28kts , but I played it down as Geof was not keen with the wind expecting to get up slightly higher and I love a strong wind. 
 
Launching was not a problem, away on the jib, and then moor off somewhere and hoist the main. All the slots were taken next to the moored ribs, so we decide to hoist in open water . It’s been a long time since I’ve sailed with Geof and forgot the Crew does everything! (even the report!)
 
It was an early kick off (1225 warning signal ) and 11 boats left the Marina
2 boats decided to return before the starting signal: 3974 (Ann & John) + 3901 (Peter &Steve)
 
Fiona set : Inflatable M (orange), Wills
Both to Port x 4 ( shortened to 2)
Game on
 
We couldn’t see the orange M so Geof decided that we wouldn’t want to lead off so we let Ian and Mike (3922) show us the way. In fact, they got a great start and cleared the fleet by a few boat lengths and led to the first mark, which was between PYC entrance and Salterns.
 
2nd round was Mervyn and Ron (4111) , Roberta & John (4016), Crispin & Steve (4101), Geof & Wolfie (4088), Steve & Paul (4019 ), Peter & Andrew (3936)
 
2 boats decided to jibe from starboard: Mervyn & Ron , and Steve &Paul. I believe we all kept our positions to 25M from Wills, as this is where it went all wrong for 4088. “Pull the slack in on the spinnaker halyard , then release the uphaul-pull it down until it won’t go then release the pole (twin pole system) then continue to pull it in”, Geof said. Last thing I heard was “pole” , first thing I did was take the pole off  Bag of washing on the front of the boat , spinnaker jammed and suddenly we were 100 meters past Wills and back into 8^th!
 
Most of the fleet dropped their spinnaker and rounded Wills and beat up to the west side of the main channel, crossed the start line and completed lap 2.
 
Rounding M for the second time we had caught the back of the fleet. Ian & Mike (3922) were still leading followed by Mervyn and Ron (4111) who then jibed off to go down the main Channel. Steve & Paul followed suit. Roberta and John  (4016) and Crispin &Phil ( 4101) with ourselves followed the lead boat (3922).
 
Mervyn, on a gust, decided he was too hot and left the boat (without Ron’s permission ) and went for a swim leaving Ron to take down the spinnaker and de power the boat .Great vigilance on the platform from Fiona’s team with Martin and Tim who jumped in the rib to pick up Mervyn and put him back on 4111.
 
Steve & Paul (4019) took advantage of that gust and sailed up to 2nd round Wills. Geof had to decided sail over towards Whitecliff (as it paid off on the last beat) and we found ourselves in the mix for top 4/3 finish, jousting with Roberta & John (4016) starboard and ourselves on Port. Geof swearing blindly that we were clear, I offered to Roberta that we would retire and she retorted with a smiling face- “No it’s fine, you can write the report! “
 
RESULTS ;
 
1st Ian & Mike 3922
2nd Steve & Paul 4019
3rd Geof & Wolfie 4088
4th Roberta &John 4016
5th Crispin & Phil 4101
6th Andrew & Simon 4054
7th Peter & Andrew 3936
8th Dick & Pete 4036
 
Retired : Mervyn & Ron 4111
DNS: Ann & John 3974
DNS: Peter & Steve 3901
 
Notes to add :
Dick and Pete (4036) broached and lay the boat flat after a rushed gybe to keep clear of another boat
Ron suffered a gash to his finger but was well looked after in the club house
Mervyn is running out of transom space for his swimming awards (may need a bigger boat)
 
Thanks to Fi and Team for laying on a race in tricky conditions.
 
Best wishes
 
Robert