Andrew Short Marine - boat and race update

by Andrew Short on 3 Jul 2006 'Plenty of action for us at the start, using our No2 jib, then changing to the Reacher for the leg to the Queenscliff mark. Changed back to the No2 at the mark and powered off through the Rip (good to be out of there). As we cleared the rip, we had the jib halyard snap as we were pounding over the steep waves. We quickly rehoisted the jib on the other halyard and we were off again.

'Just before 6 pm we were 40 miles from Wilsons Promontory, and doing 12 kts in a 15 kt Southerly and the breeze just dropped to 7 kts and we slowed down to 8kts. Only temporary we hope- Not so-.its now 830PM and the breeze is at 1kt from the east and we are doing 1.5 kts 30 miles to the Prom now. Getting very frustrating- lucky we have plenty of friendly penguins to keep us company.

'After the 9pm schedule we find we had lost our 10 mile lead on Gusto and he is now 5 miles in front of us, with Helsal 4 miles astern. At 10pm we finally get the breeze and we are doing 11-12 kts in 17 kts of wind. Should be reeling them in again now. Judging by the sched, the boats out wide hung on to the breeze and did well, while the guys inshore were parked. Long way to go still, we hope to have the lead back by the morning sched.'


On-boat from Andrew Short Marine-Club Marine