BURNSCO SPRING SERIES Race 11 (final)

Raining all day wasn't a nice way to prepare for our last race of the series? To top it off, SE although light anything with east in it I hate! gusty, fluky had to sail in.
Crew:- Kev, Steve, Knoxy, Jenna, Howdie, Matt, Holly, Charlie, Aaron, Aaron being from Picton can't see why I hate these breezes, they sail in these conditions all the time? Well We Don't Aaron?
I had set all 3 Divisions courses out to the Fairway beacon, at least we were 2 miles off the bank and a little steadier.

The breeze was around 6 - 12 pre start and really fluky near the line under the Port Hills, despite this we decided to fly a kite off the line, hopefully carry it out to the 1st mark, Pile 0,
A minute to go, pole set up, a Wild Thing and McLeod to manoeuvre around and the breeze goes light, we are going to be late, hoist the kite and chase the pack, only McLeod behind.
We made up ground on the pack which put us back in the mix as we gybed onto starboard in the Cut.
Future Feedback, Skippered tonight by Patrick (C V tactician/trimmer) had a good start and without the hassles of a kite was leading out to the 1st mark, a bit nerve racking in the gusty conditions with boats close by as the gust now up around 12-16.

We picked up Wild Thing rounding the 1st mark as they dropped their gennaka, we slid up inside, Future Feedback lead, Smak, Redline, Blackout, Ballistic, C V, Wild Thing, Zenith, McLeod.
We sailed over Ballistic on the tight reach up to Boulder middle, and closed up on Redline.
Positions stayed the same rounding Boulder middle, approaching the mark I had a change of mind, deciding to do a bear away kite set rather than bear away, the breeze was now up to the odd 18 - 20 gust.

Everyone ahead did bear away sets, our gybe set quickly payed off, but we were very flat laying the Fairway beacon, Future Feedback had pulled a big lead, as we moved into 2nd, at least it was Young 11's in front, Future Feedback had done a couple of gybes by the time they reached the mark, were we had managed to soak down without gybing, we changed headsails to a 2 for hard on back to the cut and finish,
We were busy dropping the kite, rounding the mark, almost taking out the Division 3 leader Kotare Grace the Noelex 25, as we bore away under them after rounding.

Future Feedback hadn't changed headsails, still on a 1, and was staggering quite a bit, we had the odd wee over powered moment, lower but quicker.
we arrived a the Cut ahead but had to tack across the entrance to the port beacon, F F bearing down on us with a full head of steam only 4-5 boat lengths behind, now back in the harbour under the Port Hills the breeze was very fickle again, we were soft in the lighter stuff now.
Ahead and close to the lay line to the finish looked a little light so we tacked, needing a wee lift at pile 3    
(It's usually there) but not tonight, we had to do another short board then back, meanwhile F F had gone further and was charging in to weather, we were slow out of the tack in this lighter stuff, Future Feedback taking the gun JUST.
I know what you are all thinking WHY didn't we stay on their bow and sit on them?
Blood rush to my head, and greed, wanting a bigger margin, And we needed a good result as Blackout was only 3 points ahead of us for 2nd overall in the series? My Excuse anyhow.

The margin? 1 second.
Handicap results:- Future Feedback - Clear Vision 2nd by 2 minutes on corrected time. Blackout? = 8th
Overall
1st Redline - Ross 930
2nd Clear Vision (only a point ahead of Blackout)
3rd Blackout Ross 914
4th Future Feedback (Young 11)
5th Wild Thing (Young 8.4)
Out for a well overdue bottom paint today.