Only Arke and Athene (with Nikki Horn helming) ventured. Others were in the US team racing on Sonars (Charles) or assisting Barrie sail his new yacht from the English south coast (Barrie, John C and Paul). There was no RO either (ahem Eilidh MacQueen? Perhaps in the US with the Sonars?). Arke volunteered for the GOD class. The wind was from the NW (ish) and seemed good. A special simple sausage course to D and back (S6).
Arke started in pole position and lead up the Shandon shore, covering Athene loosely. Across to D the wind sadly seemed to lighten. And with time limit we were never going to make it. Arke lost her spinnaker halyard up the mast to compound the slowness. (Arguably even if the wind had held we might STILL not have made it – the time limits really are very conservative and need looked at IMHO… notwithstanding that the last race in particular does need to be very quick.).
Back at the pier there was an unfortunate (but not fatal) incident unfurling with the local lifeboat and police in attendance.
