Erin’s day - Saturday 15th March Saturday was cloudy and cool. Winds were from the NE approx 15 knots easing during the afternoon to 8 knots. The race committee set up an interesting course with an offset mark at the windward end of the course in dark green (hmmm, very easy to spot!). The obvious choice was to look at the committee boat where they had a big ‘O’ above the number of laps. Here is Saturdays racing from Erin’s point of view: Race 1 started with the committee boat being favored and everyone stacking up there. Mayhem kindly returned our luffing duel from last week and enjoyed a good start whilst we suffered! As soon as we could we went right to get clear air and found ourselves towards the top mark in the company of Siren, Cyclone and Jezebel. Sadiiqi & Mayhem were out in front, Mayhem did a fake dive to the inside at the top mark, Sadiiqi covered and set off downwind not rounding the dark green thing 100m to the left. Mayhem shot back up and rounded correctly. From here on they were uncatchable. It finished Mayhem, Cyclone, then Jezebel by ½ boat over Erin. Race 2 and the wind had started left and the committee boat dropped back 5 degrees making the pin favored. Sadiiqi tried a port start at the pin but were unsuccessful as we shut them out on starboard. Headding left we took the knocks ready for the long lift on port. This worked well and put us in 2nd behind a flying Cyclone who had gone right. Where were Mayhem? Why were they so far back? After a lap of the course Cyclone were still out in front, New Wave were overhauling us downwind and it looked like a 3rd until Joji gybed on top of New Wave who instinctively luffed hard. Joji rode over them and we went into 2nd, thanks guys. After a bit of math it was calculated we had won the series coz Mayhem came in 7th. Yipeee. Race 3 and we were off at the pin end again. This time we were followed by Cyclone & Mayhem who forced us out to the lay line. Next lap and Mayhem went left again with us following whilst speedy Cyclone & Siren went right. When we all met Mayhem crossed in front and we had to duck both the righties. However, we tacked on Cyclones windward hip and did not let Siren back out to the lay line. The finish was in the same order as we went round the top mark, Mayhem, Cyclone, Erin and Siren who held off a rapidly closing Sadiiqi in 5th.
