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Alastair Lonsdale writes, ‘Last Friday, we started the evening early, wanting to get to the boat early to take down the flags and CDs that the gulls seem to regard as welcoming decoration, and deal with the presents they leave behind in exchange. Things were not too bad, allowing us to get onto the harbour in good time, and evaluate the conditions.

Initial thoughts that it might be another evening with low wind proved unfounded as we got a little way out, and the usual cruise around fortuitously saw us in the right place at the right time, crossing the starting line only seconds after our start time of 5:07.

Having checked, we knew the tide was running fast to one of the highest of the year and made the decision to hug the shores and make as few tacks as possible. We made good time up the northern side of the Harbour, the wind being ideal for Flight of Fancy - a good stiff steady breeze that might make some of the lighter boats a bit jittery, but not require a reef. We went up high, made a good tack, and arrived at the first mark in good time, rounding with little contention.

Taking a line in close to shore, we again tacked at the last minute and got a good line up the west past Bradley's, towards George's Head. Avoiding the tide proved to be a good strategy, and early season fumbles having been worked through the previous week, all tacks were quick and sharp, which always helps.

Coming across to the Sow and Pigs mark, we were again fortunate to arrive without too much congestion, only three of us, with us being just on the right line to swing closest to the mark without (just!) touching it, and the others allowed us fair and reasonable room for which we were thankful.

Coming down towards Shark Island, poling out the genoa proved a good decision. A quick grab of a cable avoided a stumble by one of the crew turning into something worse. And the wind was coming from just the right angle to fill the genoa fully and consistently, rather than having it undecided which side of the boat it really wanted to be, which saw us at Shark with not too many others.

Coming home, we overtook one or two other competitors. Expert and constant attention to trim by Dave, and good decisions over weight distribution made the difference, as did the wind dying only a little on a couple of occasions.

We were glad to get back and moored and into the clubhouse, as shortly after the rain began, the wind dropping as it so often does, developing into a nice downpour.

Good use of local and on-the-day knowledge, some quick tacking, well-trimmed sails, the right winds, and a bit of luck made the differences that saw us with line honours. A great start to the season!’
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