The day that almost was .....
Greetings from a warm and sunny Lake Lipno, windless for most of the day but the Splashes and Flashes were launched about 3.30pm with the hope of a slight but building breeze.
Sam and I got so excited, we rushed next door to hire our stand up paddleboards (SUPs) again and paddled furiously to the start line in time to see the gun go and all four of our Kiwi team crack off the start line like jackrabbits.
The breeze was very light but still sailable and further furious paddling got us up to the top mark, Evangeline 3rd around, Taylor 4th, O'Shea 6th and Harris 8th.
A couple of Dutch girls and the second placed sailor overall, Max, were also in contention as the fleet closed up around the wing mark and the downwind leg. Taylor had got into second by then and hit the front by a considerable margin on the beat back up to the wing mark. A left shift saw his nemesis, Max... the very same that protested him twice in the previous regatta, hook into a left shift and just pip him around the mark and it was all on for the last downwind. O'Shea moved up into third, Evangeline and Harris were still hanging in the top ten as the breeze started dying away.
One of the mark boats came speeding up with the 'Abandonment' flag flying and it was all over for the day...... 100 metres away from the gate mark and with 30 minutes of the allotted time limit of the race to go.
We were all left a little disappointed that the race couldn't have been finished earlier at the wing-mark as the race previously had been yesterday, or left to carry on to the gate-mark. All Kiwi sailors in the top ten was a great result, we just have to look to do it all again tomorrow.
The forecast is for much warmer weather and light winds tomorrow, the pressure will be on to get four races in to try and get back near to schedule, very hard if there is little wind.
The beach volleyball is proving an energetic distraction and I am sure that Sam is considering SUP paddling as an alternative career.
Did I mention Max's parents in their large hi-tech but 'traditional' sailing boat? They called us over on our paddleboards, poured the wine and beer and we watched the race turn custard-like in the most civilised fashion... certainly one of the reasons the Splash Class sailing is so enjoyable.
Hopefully better news tomorrow
Rob
