Big Boat Race Report
Guest User
Written by Chris Bowling
Three boats, moderate southeasterly, much better weather than the previous Sunday when there were gales and widespread flooding.
Our timed start without a start boat seemed to work well. We all have watches set to exact time. Corinna was first away but with G-Force threatening to sail over the top. It was Chenonceau who powered into the lead but Corinna found a little private lift to round Point Piper first. Chenonceau hit the mark and did a 360 and G-force had to tack for the mark, leaving Corinna with a handy lead.
The run and reach to Sow & Pigs was all about waterline length. G-force tried a spinnaker but dropped it too late at the Taylors Bay mark, giving up time and going slow on a possibly dirty bottom. Chenonceau created an overlap to round the Beashel buoy first but when the reach to Shark Island became a work Corinna made the best of the frequent curly little lifts, rounding 200 yards ahead.
The reach to the finish was a nail-biter with Chenonceau rapidly closing the gap but Corinna managed to hang on to win by a boat length. G-force finished about 5 minutes later.
A very enjoyable race, in spite of the small numbers.
Next month the Edwards are racing on 1/3 and some of us are entered in their series so our next race is on 8/3.