Race Day

It was quite windy when we left the pontoon but we put just enough of a reef in to balance the no 2 jib. The race started a bit late which meant we got into a good position for the start. Robinetta was in her element - enough wind to make her go and we made some good tacking decisions and kept up with the leaders right through the inner narrows. We were leading the pack of gaffers as we got to the first mark.

Unfortunately we didn't see it.

By the time we realised we had missed it we needed to go a long way back to round it and ended up at the back of the pack.

The next mark was upwind and we struggled to beat towards it. Alison said to go north of the post marking the Limestone Rock but that took us away from the mark and we tacked back too soon and put ourselves aground.

This was not an unusual position for us to be in, but we were used to mud, not sand with boulders. None the less we did what we would normally do, got the sails down, put the engine in reverse, and wriggled our way off. We went aground again almost immediately, but managed to get clear once more and this time made our way out of danger. It had been a close thing. The tide was falling, and we could have been stuck there for at least 10 hours.

By the time we got off most boats were nearing or through the narrows so we retired and sailed gently back. Robinetta had never felt so fast as she did at the start. Now she needs a competent crew!