Bunbury return race

With the Bunbury and Return the first longer race (169 nm) following on from the Geraldton Effort which was not so succesful a few of the crew were wanting to do well in this race. The forecast going into the race was not looking good for a small boat with a dying breeze on the Sunday going to make it difficult we knew that we had to be as close to the 40 footers as possible to have any chance with this race and the Farrawa cup.

The start was in a 10 - 12 know southerly which we did well with rounding just behind Next Factor and in front of High Anxiety next was one of those silly two sail reach thing out to windmills where we rounded behind the 40 footers but a couple of minutes in front of the boats around our size. The plan was head out to sea until the breeze swang around and then tack and head south for the next 80 odd nauticle miles. After about an hour and a half the swing was showing signs so we said we either tack when the breeze hits 200 TWD (True Wind Direction), it got to 12.30pm or The Next Factor tack. The Next Factor tacked about 5 min later so we did and at the same time the breeze went to 200 TWD. With the forecast showing it should go around to about 220 TWD as the sea breeze kicked in we were hoping to lay Cape Bouvard but only just. We soon changed to the medium (or number 1 medium / heavy as some like to call it) and an hour or so later we went to the number 3 headsail. It soon became apparent what each boat's plan was with Wild Side, Wild One and our selves going the coastal route and inside bouvard reefs Knee Deep, The Next Factor and High Anxiety taking the offshore route. Our decision was based on Navigator Adam thinking that if we knock into the beach later on near bunbury we will have a better angle to come out to sea on then what the boats that headed out to sea early did.

The Plan nearly went picture perfect except for the 9 minute tack we had to put in as we could not quite get past cape bouvard. At the 0620 sched we knew we were looking ok as the Next Factor were only 2nm south of us and 3nm out to sea and High Anxitey as south as we were but again 3nm out to sea. The flat water inside bouvards had as sitting on 7 knots with good height. Simon and Andrew however not fairing the best and were having a competiting on who could throw up the most of which I am still not sure who won. About 15nm out of Bunbury the breeze started knocking us and lightening off and Simon came back to help with the headsail changes back to the medium and then the light whilst we were tacking up the beach and at some points could quite clearly see the trees even though it was dark. We went aroung Bunbury about 11.30pm with a big cheer for the people on the rounding boat about 4.5nm behind next factor and 2nm behind High Anxiety so we were looking good. We set the big white kite and soon everyone started disappearing and Simon who was wide awake after his long sleep stearing and Adam trimming Kite and Main sailing back up the coast in flat water and excellent conditions making the trip worth it. At about 2.50pm we had caught High Anxiety up with 2 on deck and soon other awakened. I went to sleep for half an hour then did the next sched were again we were lookin good but wildside were 32nm in front and had the race in the bag. When I came up on deck and had a look I noticed we were a bit close to the reef and so the fun began with Simon on the helm, Andrew & Bugs trimming Kite and John on the main and myself on the tablet we started playing games with the reefs and went a bit close for my liking at times but got through and carried the kite at 45 degrees apparant at one point at the last reef we had people on the bow ready for the headsail to go up so that is how close we were. We finally put a headsail up about half an hour later and played the shore and changing between the blue kite and headsail a number of times until we were up at the top of Garden Island where the breeze shut out. The Next Factor parked up just past windmills so we were not out of it yet. We floated around and put the big kite up to hope for the best when the seabreeze was sighted on the horizon. we gybed towards it and finally carried it in to the finish line.

We knew wildside had it in the bag on IRC and YAH but new we did well as were not far behind next factor. and we think we ended up placing 2nd on IRC and 4th on YAH (It is not really fair that a 40 footer only has to give us 34minutes in a 27 hour race). This has now got us heading towards presentations on Thursay looking at winning three out three trohpies for the Farrawa Cup series a great result.

Also special mention to Eileen Moore for cooking the Lasagne which tasted great at Midnight coming home even though it was cold.

Adam