Day 2 of the europeans was not the best. Both teams made poor results due to bad starting and silly mistakes. At the end of the day GBR2 was still in 11th (due to a second discard being awarded) and GBR1965 was standing in 20th.Not a great day on the water.
Day 3, Friday was it's name. A great day. We had such low expectations as we sailed out. All of the local dudes assured us that the wind wouldn't increase beyond 6 knots so a feeling of doom was with us as we began the usual drift out to the race course. After a bad day's results, to follow this by a day's racing was not what we needed. I didn't even take an apple due to the light winds expected - big mistake.
As we got to the course the wind had increased to around 15 knots, the strongest so far of the competition. We we very happy with this.
It became apparent very quickly that our boatspeed in these conditions was very good. Every leg taking places.
Race 1 saw us at the windward mark rounding in 3rd - just next to Mischa Heemskerk who had won every race so far. Very exciting!
Perhaps a bit too exciting as a catalogue of cock-ups unfolded;
1- helmsman decides to waterski whilst the kite is going up
2- once helm back on board and we crank it up, kite halyard jumps out of cleat, kite falls down
3- kite back up, power back on, block for kite sheet rips off deck, not to fast.
Running repairs followed around course, finishing 6th, our best result so far.
Race 2 was similar without the cock-ups, race 3 we , again were getting a bit excited, early on the start so had to go back. This put us a bit too close to the back of the fleet. Eventually finishing 17th (our new discard)
Race 4 - great start, 4th at the first mark, took 3rd downwind (very fast indeed) then kept that until some cheecky italian skallywags decided to do the all or nothing up the wrong side on the last downwind, got lucky and squeezed in just in front. 4th - not bad.
On board GBR1965, getting a bit too friendly with some of the other boats. Around the gate in the 1st race, boat behind charges into the rudders, causing a capsize pretty much on the mark. Tom and Jon not too impressed with this call protest at those anchors.
Protest hearing, Tom brings witness and a good arguement. Protest gets thrown out as anchors appeared to have done a penalty turn.
Then to turn it around, much to the suprise of Tom in the protest room, it turns out that the same boat has protested back for a simple port/starboard which as far as 1965 were concerned, never happend. 1965 DSQ. Balls.
Another violent thunderstorm followed that evening. I decided to try out improving the waterproof qualities of my dwelling by spraying the top with silicone. WE HAVE A WINNER! No leaks after a night of very loud rain. Fantastic.
Last day of competition 1 race scheduled GBR2 in 11th, 1965 in 19th both looking to improve. Forecast couldn't be much worse.
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