Hi all,
Keep it simple today.
Went out into another gradient south easterly wind. Ranging between 10 – 20 knots super shifty and relatively cold on the water.
The first race I started about 15 boats down from the boat end of the start. Held my lane and tacked and ducked 2 sterns to punch out on port and start crossing boats. All looked good and tacked ahead and to leeward of the right group. Rolled over the left hand guys and then some of them tacked underneath. Left hand side lead by slingo I just footed off his hip. He went further left and found a set of waves and rolled over me and Andy Maloney.
I then proceeded on the reach to hold about a 6th before heading downwind in pressure and rounding the bottom in 2nd. Then TB and I had a big duel. For the 2nd upwind I won the left and made a big gain. On the run I languished in little pressure while he came rocketing up behind me in the new puffs coming down the course. Bloody frustrating!!!
I chased slingo up the final beat when I should have been taking closer notice of TB. He went harder left and it paid, he crossed me and then slam dunked me. Goodi was in striking distance and I was getting near … On the downwind he moved out to the side and was in the new pressure coming down. Both TB and I didnt move quickly enough to it and he mowed us down … ARGHHH
So I finished race 1 of gold in 4th after being 2nd for most of it and even making ground on Slingo. Easy to make errors !!!
Race 2 was more frustrating. Great start about 15 boats up from pin. Was in left phase to begin with. Footed out into my own lane was feeling very comfortable and fast. Tacked and had the fleet in my leeward window!!! then it happened in what felt like an instant. A 10 degree header and I went into a tack and sailed on oblivious as to what had happened to the right of me. 30 degree right hand shift !!! SHIT !!! 30 boat off my hip and they are still lifting all the way to the left lay. Rounded in the 30s and that is where I stayed …
Over the course of that race my back was folding too so I am so happy for a rest day tomorrow for some R & R and treatment. Horrible feeling meatball hiking on port tack into that gnarly chop ………….
Luckily my drop is a 10 so today I drop the 31 and take the 10 instead and remain in 4th overall. The final day will be penultimate so wish me luck!
Ash
