Last Two Races

Race 5
We had pretty much the whole team together for the 5th race. Jenni on the helm, with Terina, Julie, Karina and me doing the work. It called for the new caps Jenni had made. And gorgeous they are too!Jenni is very happy at the helm

We had the first full fleet of the CYC's winter series crossing our path and Jenni managed to stay on starboard for most of the times when we were in close proximity. We had a one or two close calls and exericised our lungs with cries of "starboard" now and then but no dangerously near misses.

We sailed well and finished hot on the heels of Mercedes who passed us on the last leg to Clarke Island. We even put the pole up and took it down again without mishap.

Lunch was Moroccan spiced lamb with roast vegetables, salad and rolls. A few fruit cakes and a little turkish delight rounded off the meal. Another triumph for Julie.

The trip home was one of those lovely cruises into the setting sun. Sydney Harbour looks gorgeous in the late afternoon. I was pretty relaxed about it all.

Race 6
The last race of the season and mainly light winds were forecast. Jenni was packing for her overseas trip so Cat came instead. She is a beginner but learning fast.

We did the same course as race 5, westerly from Taylor Bay, again with no wind to speak of so a very slow start. We were first across the line but it was slow going until we got clear of Bradley's Head. Leap Frog and TopKnot were the only other boats. No sign of Mercedes and although we saw Saitama she wasn't racing.

We crossed the CYC fleet while heading for Fort Denison but managed to be on starboard for most of the way through them. Then we tacked to find that Topknot had got a great lift and was close behind us. But we left them for dead and they got a big hole in wind behind the Fort as we ran down the harbour to Rose Bay.

A few big gusts kept us on our toes but we finished first and because the wind had turned southerly we headed for Topknot's more protected mooring in Double Bay to have lunch and wait for them to arrive. It gets dark early these days so we didn't stay long but headed home to Balmain in the certain knowledge that we at least had a place for the series even though we have had no results since last sunmmer.

Please Neil can we get the handicaps sorted or revert to the old system.