4th May 2008 - Race Weeks Over
Posted at 4:39 AM, Sunday, May 4, 2008
Well - we saw Alex, Rob and Louise off into a taxi earlier tonight as they began their journey back home - with race week behind us.
Once I get some of the pictures they've all taken ofr the team - I'll add them to the lbog.
As you might guess, this week we did not collect any silverware.
Our retirement from one race (purely my fault) along with sailing in the wrong division (again no one to blame except me) with such a high handicap that meant we had to beat Swan 50's over the line to think of winning - all combined to see us at 15th spot out of 18 yachts in Performance Cruiser 4 Division.
But we did sail well - meaning all tasks went like clockwork - just a shame the whole crew deserved a bit better than what we got.
Top marks go to all - especially Rob and Alex who worked really hard to make sure every hoist and drop went just like clockwork. Add in Sue, Louise and Izzie who made sure our sail trim was 100% - really made us a potentially winning team. Maybe with new sails in Cruiser Division in some future year? Who knows............
Here's a professional shot of us powered up through bouncy seas off the south coast. We're all down to leeward ad slightly cracked off as we head into a mark rounding to begin our bare-away set at a top mark.
It's only when you see pictures like this you realise it is a big boat for 6 to race.....but in truth that is all one needs to actually run the boat well. Albeit another four bodies on the rail would have helped keep her more upright and maybe gained us some lost height. Newer sails would definately have assisted, and next time we'll make her look better by removing the sail stack and bimini!!
But anyway. As we could not convert our prowess on the race track into results this time round, we had to do as I threatened before - and do this with the parties.
I think we won most of those........
In fact despite the race results, it turned into one of those great family holidays where everyone got to know each other just a little bit better.
Tonight, with only Izzie left as a guest, and her out partying on a younger people boat anchored in the bay, Sue and I went off to the prize giving party solo.
In our division, it ended up with -
Bellisimo - a Peurto Rican Beneteau 53 - 1st place.
Hugo B - an Antiguan 49 footer - 2nd.
Northern Child - a British Swan 51 - 3rd.
As stated not quite last but 15th from 18th competitors.
The prize party rocked on. We met up with a few Auzzies we'd met before including Chris Shirlock (who skippers ICAP Leopard - the biggest boat out on the race track this week). We smiled when we saw each other not just a e werre both half cut. We used to race against each other years back in Perth. His boat Leopard is an awesome machine - like a Volvo 70 on steroids.
But coincidentally, his owner Mike Slade who wawith him gave Sue a big hug when he realised we are near neighbours in the New Forest.
Albeit it is our main home, and his place is his weekend retreat - he lives only 2 doors away.
Small world eh?
So now with our end of season race week over - its time to repack the boat with the stuff we've removed - and start getting her prepped for going home to the other side of the Atlantic.
We've not found another shipping company to do the job but have got a US delivery company who contract out skippers / crew to sail boats anywhere. They are shortly to advise me which people are being selected for the run and also when they might depart.
Fingers crossed, we're hoping it will be a mid May exit for an early to mid June arrival into Lymington - making it possibe for us to enter the local Hanse Rally end June, plus take part in the Round the Island Race at month end. I've stolen one of the Antigua Race Week Flags to display at each!
I'll update you when we leave Antigua - but expect that to be midweeek after Izzie flys out. We anticipate being asked to deliver the boat ourselves to St Maartins (only 100 miles NW) and handing her over to the delivery team there - and then finally we'll catch a plane ourselves and return to sunny old UK.
You all take care, from the team of -
Sue, Louise, Izzie, Alex, Rob and JOHN
{ add comment }