Page 9 - CYAA 2022 Winter Series Race 7 31st July
P. 9
or we would be marked as a DNF.
and found the source of the leak, near
We were cold, wet, hungry and suddenly the bow. I was able to make up and as we were concerned about the water
felt very annoyed. To go through eight install some chocks and almost stop leak. The weather on Sunday afternoon
hours of pain and excitement in this the leak. So Martini’s damage was limited was favourable with good wind coming
weather and to just miss out on a finish to a leak at the bow. The paint had from behind (for a change!). Still pumped,
time would be the final insult. rubbed off her starboard side due to we decided to accelerate our return
We crossed the line at 2038 hours, spending 90 % of her time on port tack. trip and hoisted the spinnaker for some
the last boat to score with 2 minutes It also revealed the extent of the damage of the journey until the wind turned
to spare, the ones behind us getting to other yachts that made it to Geelong. to the east. Our maximum speed peaked
a DNF. At this stage we had no electric But ‘we were here to race!’ Martini at 8.7 knots just off Point Gellibrand
bilge pumps, and just wanted a hot has a reputation as a floating tool shed surfing down a wave.
shower and food. Our faces were white and so this repair was accomplished One day I might tell my family the
and salt encrusted. As we had been quite well and just in time to cross the full story but not while I want to
concentrating on our crises for the entire start line for Race 2 even though we experiencemoregreatsailingadventures.
race, we were elated that we kept our still had some leakage and only one
nerve under abysmal conditions, but bilge pump. The show must go on and From the Martini helm
then felt disappointed that we appeared we did our part. We had an extra advantage
to be the last boat in. in that Cameron Dorrough had come A small box of lessons learnt.
How could this be? After long hot showers down to enjoy a sail with us. Between 1. NEVER, NEVER sail where there is a gale
warning. That was our first thoughts and we deviated
and several heart starters (heavy beer Cameron’sandMichael’ssailingexperience from them.
of course) we slinked over to the race (and Cameron’s wife Jen providing us 2. Ensure that you have enough crew to suit the
conditions. We didn’t!
score board and found that 30-40% with delicious lemon slice rations) we
of the fleet had pulled out. In fact when had to win this race It was probably 3. Be careful what you take and where you put it. Light
we looked at our handicap time we made easier by the fact that we were beers in glass stubbies stored low in the boat are a disaster
actually had beaten most of the yachts the only Classic yacht left racing and as the labels float
in the cruising division. so had the honour of crossing the finish
The world suddenly looked different lineinbothfirstandlastposition.Interestingly
andwegainedlotsofenergyandcelebrated our handicap time put us faster than
into the night and the early morning. all the cruising yachts in Race 2. With
the extra tools brought down by Cameron
Several fellow sailors were quite amazed we then tackled the repair of the second
that just two of us had sailed down bilge pump and in the process emulated
to Geelong in those atrocious conditions. the wire failure again complete with smoke.
I think by the early hours we had told Race 3 on Sunday was held in brilliant
them that we had fought off sharks, conditions.
octopuses and tidal waves!
We then left to return to Williamstown
The next morning we had new energy
