Big Boat Race Report
Guest User
Written by Chris Bowling
The day was warm but we saw little of the sun, though cloud and the bushfire haze that has troubled the city for what seems to be weeks. With a forecast of nor-easter building during the race to 22 knots both Corinna and Smitten opted for small sails, while other boats looked at the real conditions and went big. In the event, the nor-easter came in but never gusted over 15 and the big sail people had it right. Perhaps the haze took the edge off the power behind it.
Six boats registered, 5 starters arrived. Corinna made the best of the start but Sanity’s size and design and skilled crew moved her through the fleet to be ahead by a boat length at the first mark, with Katinka and Chenonceau in hot pursuit. Smitten reached the start somewhat late and eventually retired for a family cruise.
Reaching to Taylors Bay, Sanity opened a good lead and Chenonceau nudged ahead of Katinka, with Corinna still second. The work to Sow and Pigs with an outgoing tide and uneven wind was closely fought, with Chenonceau crossing ahead of Corinna and Katinka threatening; but when Corinna went to the right hand corner at Neilsen park she regained the second, to round about 3 minutes behind Sanity.
Running home just one boat hoisted a spinnaker; Corinna hoisted a storm kite and somehow it came out the bag sideways, with the tapering head on the lee side. She looked like a jury-rigged junk but we made it work and drew only a few wry comments from passing boats; we even gybed it successfully at Shark Island, and held it to the finish.
For the record; the sideways kite drew well (neither skipper nor crew had tried it previously!) and we maintained a clear second to the finish, about 3 minutes behind Sanity. Chenonceau was about a minute behind, and still threatening, but Katinka went too close under Steel Point and lost ground.
Over the line:
Sanity
Corinna
Chenonceau
Katinka
Smitten (DNF)
Thanks to all competitors for helping to keep this fleet alive. We race again on 12th January.