(Guest report from Shane Rankin – Halcyone)
Race Officer Charles Darley had to wait for the wind to fill in from the South, even then it was light. He opted for the shortest course possible, Z to A and back.
The downwind start was tricky, Athene hadn’t reached the start by the gun. Halcyone, Hermes and Thia all started well, close to the Z mark, and hoisted spinnakers quickly. Halcyone’s spinnaker halyard let go, they sailed over the kite and Hermes slipped past.
Further inshore Thia had a good line and clear air and made the A mark ahead of Hermes. Without her spinnaker Halcyone was slow, Luna’s was flying well and looked threatening.
Rounding A Hermes was too quick and tapped Thia on the quarter. Halcyone rounded well close to the mark and upwind of the boats ahead. Hermes did her penalty turns letting Halcyone past. Thia was pointing well, Halcyone couldn’t catch up and tacked off for clear air. Thia tacked to cover. After crossing Athene with her kite pulling well Thia tacked back, it looked like she could make the Z mark. Halcyone stood on before tacking.
The shortened course signal sounded. Hermes had gone inshore looking for less tide, she found it. When she was well ahead she tacked out to cover Thia and Halcyone.
The wind dropped further and headed the leading boats. It looked like Hermes would make the line first. A header pushed Thia behind the moored Captain Michalis, Halcyone scraped past ahead. Hermes getting close to the finish line looked like she would run out of water, she tacked off and lost momentum. Halcyone stood on towards the beach and caught a lift along the shore that took her across the line first. Hermes was close behind. Luna had stayed out and for a long time seemed stationary against the tide. At the end, she found pressure which eluded Thia took third place. Athene got no further than the A mark in dying air..
Positions. 1. Halcyone 2. Hermes 3. Luna 4. Thia. Athene DNF. (Catriona RO)
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