We're Back!

Welcome back to One O Nine's blog! Things have been quiet over summer, but as we are racing in the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron Winter Series on the habour, time has come to once again share photos and reports of our progress.There are 11 races in the series, and Race 3 has just been completed last Saturday (15th May). For the first 2 races, wind conditions were really light - kind of like Hamilton Race Week last year. Still in each race we managed to come 8th (both over the line and on handicap).

Race 3 preceded the return of Jessica Watson, meaning a harbour full of spectator craft and well wishers. We had a very small crew of 4, but a great building SW wind for the race. After some initial errors (missed a great start, spinnaker hoisting issues....) we got our act together and with some good tactical decisions came home in a respectable 4th position over the line and 3rd on handicap! With wind strength from 15 to 20 knots, One O Nine was in her element, powering through swell and sailing well. Our new 'secret weapon' - a 195 square metre masthead asymmetric spinnaker was revealed on the final leg, taking us quickly to almost 10 knots as we crossed the finish line.

Images in this post are of the new spinnaker and also of the chaos that surrounded Jessica's return - we went out and participated in her escourt down the harbour following the race.

You can just see Jessica's boat in the middle of this one... the small pink blur in the middle.
It will all be ok if you don't look back!

Looking through the fleet.....