Laura McCrossin

Race night 5 yachts prepared for the race starting at 18:00, with the same course as last week: start, Clipera (s), Penrhos (p), Meath (p), Finish. Winds were SW 12kt gusting 19kt with some ferry movements and a small cruise liner on the Aluminium Jetty. FlairIV started to prepare the code 0 for the start but there was a twist in the halyard so it had to be dropped and reset, which made us 35 seconds late over the start line. However we soon overtook the 2 yachts in front of us and made for Clipera. With one tack on the unwind leg to Penrhos we made excellent speed and after rounding the mark made for Meath. By the time we rounded Meath the rest of the fleet were only just getting to Penrhos! one tack once we had rounded Meath to clear the breakwater and then one last tack by the end of the Aluminium Jetty to make it all the way to the finish. Results: YTC https://halsail-1e484.kxcdn.com/Result/Public/98464

NNE F3 and rain as we left the mooring but soon after clearing the Breakwater the clouds started lifting. As we neared Langdon Ridge the sun could be felt warming the air as the drizzle stopped. With the wind backing we had a great sail to our leading line into the Skerries, welcomed by a group of seals resting on the entrance rocks. Once in the lagoon we moored on the buoy in perfect time for lunch. After lunch we stayed watching the seals for a while before casting off and motoring out of the lagoon. By now the ebb tide was flowing quickly but the sea conditions were unusually flat. After raising the main and unfurling the jib we had a wonderful reach all the way to Clipera with a dead run across to the New Harbour and then onto our mooring.