BURNSCO SPRING SERIES Race 5

After a stormy afternoon of rain and strong northerlies gusting 40 knots the weather had settled down to  a cloudy 18-20 knot WSW .
Crew:- Kev, Steve, Knoxy Aaron, Alix, Jenna, Matt, Charlie.
Full main & Number 3 tonight, as I thought the breeze and weather had settled down maybe swing to the SW around 18-20?
Crews putting reefs in pre start ,when the breeze dropping to 12-15 as we started in Div 1.
My thoughts were it would stay in at around 17 - 20 as Kev and predict wind had suggested,

A poor start stuck behind Redline and Future Feedback had us trailing the 6 boat Div 1 fleet out through the cut, kites up (fractional), as I still expected more?
We were inside the rest kite up 1st thinking we're ok here as we shuddered & shook our way through the nasty northerly swell left over from the earlier blow.

The breeze line out further moved onto Blackout, Ballistic and Future Feedback, the latter broaching twice, which now had us bow to bow with C V well to leeward.

Blackout and Ballistic were off, Future Feedback were again upright and took off after them C V, Wild Thing and Redline sat and watched? yes were were stuck in a hole, flopping in a confused slop, not the only thing that was confused? we finally picked up some breeze, but still not as much as the front 3 who were now gone.

Around Boulder 1 behind Wild Thing and now hard on the wind to the Cardinal, we had changed to #2 headsail for this upwind, with good speed and height, climbing over Wild Thing but the front 3 were way ahead.

We arrived at the Cardinal amongst the Div 2 boats so at least had some company out there.
A big right shift (WSW) as we approached the Cardinal made a kite ride home look good as the SW made it a tight gennaka, we rounded and bugger me, the breeze swung back to the west, this was properly the 4th wrong call (at least) from me tonight so why not go for the big one?

Up with the masthead? we won't make the height to the entrance but we will get a good ride and with all the bad luck and shifts tonight, we may have earned a big get out of jail shift and make it?
Not to be. We did have a good ride then had to drop and 2 sail reach up to the entrance for a worst of the season 4th and last on handicap.

A frustrating night, the next day (Thursday) a 24 knot (STEADY SW). I predicted it. just 12 hours out?

Congratulations - Noel and crew on Blackout. 1st local boat to crack the magic 0.900 club handicap.

Busy November ahead
Sunday 2nd - Club Golf tournament
Sunday 9th - Clive Lewis Design Bluff to Bluff
Sunday 16th - Rotary Charity race
Friday 21st - Nelson - Tarakohe race No rest for the wicked?