One day the forecasters will get it right. The supposed 15-20 SW was more like 8-12 and the blade jib was put away in favour of the genoa today - a good thing too as the jib window is so patched I cannot see through it anyway. There were only 6 J24s out today - Solaise, Siren, Sadiiqi, Erin, Mayhem and Tempest - I can’t remember the last time there were so few boats on the line. And what a line it was. It was already long - and that was before John Nicholls on Siren decided to drag the pin off a bit further just before the first race. The RC set a 3 lap course for race one - down to Lantana and back. What were they thinking? It was going to be a long day… The first start was good (there was so much room on the line how could it not be), and we stuck it out with Mayhem for a while, until they tacked and suddenly gained 10 boatlengths on the rest of the fleet. Behind them it was quite close initially. Tempest managed to decorate the first mark with their chute but failed to see it themselves, despite the shouting from Erin & Solaise, but they did buy some loudmouth soups in the bar afterwards to make up for it. The left side of the course and the port layline definitely saw a lot of action during the race. At the end of a long race, brightened by our guest star Rebecca on board, it was Mayhem well ahead of everyone else. Race two saw another clean and quick start for a 2 lap affair this time. Tempest and Sadiiqi were well in the mix, and the first mark rounding saw Mayhem round in front in front of the Black Pig. Erin decided to liven up proceedings by hitting us after not quite making the mark, but promptly did their turns (Tempest take note) and ended up at the back of the pack. They managed to break 2 cases of Heineken and 3 sails which were back on the dock in the collision. The rest of the race saw Mayhem in front with Sadiiqi hot on their heels (and without regular crew on board). I think Tempest got third - they were flying thanks to some Ramsdale-inspired mast tuning, and we pipped Siren, with Erin bringing up the rear. Race 3 was another two lapper, and was extremely close. Tempest were flying again, as were Mayhem. That left side was paying off again, especially for Sadiiqi, who used it to great effect to sail past Erin, Siren and us. Mayhem won, Tempest got second, and Sadiiqi third. Back at the bar it was soups all round, and Freb Weber showed up and stayed away from the food - wonders will never cease.

The forecast was for 15-25 and showers, so of course it was a lovely 10-15 and sunn y in the morning as eight Js set off for a days racing. The breeze in the sound picked up to 15 by the time the first gun went at 11 and we were off. Jezebell, unusually, was behind the line at the start as we hared up the course after the J105s and Etchells. With both J105’s and 505’s on the course it was a day to keep a sharp lookout! Race 1 had a newly tuned up Tempest leading at the top mark with Erin and Sadiiqi close astern. Crews struggled at the top of the course as the shifty gusts up there moved the laylines every thirty seconds. The next upwind had Sadiiqi move into the lead and pull away and hold that to the finish. Tempest 2nd and Erin 3rd. Race 2 set off after the course was moved right. Sadiiqi led at the top mark from a chasing pack of four boats. The pack jostled all the way downwind with a cramped and noisy mark rounding ensuing – how Erin got through that gap I’m not sure. As the pack fought it out, Sadiiqi extended and took the gun. Erin led the pack for a 2nd with Siren charging along in 3rd. Centipede were having a good day with two 4ths at this point. The final race and two boats changed down to jibs as a black cloud loomed. The cloud didn’t bring the expected breeze and the boats suffered on the first upwind. Erin, Siren and Tempest led at the top mark with Sadiiqi getting into the mix by the bottom of the run. The next upwind brought the top three boats close together and they began the run neck and neck. The wind had now shifted to make the final run a port gybe. The three boats had an exciting run down the course with much discussion of rule 17 before Erin took the gun and Siren edged out Sadiiqi by a hair. Final results Sadiiqi, Erin and Siren.

Aaah, now I remember the dog days of last summer and those action-packed starts. The breeze was up and the RHADC was looking busy at 5:30pm - I am guessing that the traffic jam on East Broadway was all those sailors getting away from work early? Anyway, we rigged up with Genoa, only to decide in the start sequence that we should change to blade (doh!). There was a good showing of J24s on the line, along with mini-Addiction, Fat Tuesday, Tsunami, Ace Girl (before her one-two trip), some 505s, 105s and a J80 - phew! The start showed that the RC boat was favoured, giving the best path out towards Two Rock. The course was Start-102-103-KP-Finish. There was a fair bit of ducking, crash-tacking and loud yelling as we headed out past Whites Island and the RBYC. I think Joji did turns for fouling an Etchells, and on Solaise we were fouled by Ace Girl just a Two Rock - that boat seemed to have trouble seeing other boats, causing a little consternation as beers were almost spilled. As we got out into the Sound it became clear that Monkeyshines was going like a, er, monkey out of hell, and mini-Addiction was trucking too. There was also a fast Etchells and those flying 505s. In the J24 fleet, Erin was just outdragging Solaise, with Mayhem an Gripper hot on our heels. At 102 Erin was slightly ahead, with Mayhem an Gripper closing in after 103. At KP (is that somewhere near Ricketts?) Erin was still leading, and Gripper and Mayhem were edging forward. Mayhem were flying that nice grey Bacardi O spinnaker, and we had the yellow Bat on Solaise. The biggest tactical decision came at Hinsons - Heineken or Amstel Lite ? Actually, it was whether to go through the boats & moorings or round. We went round, Gripper and Mayhem went through. Todd, doing foredeck on Mayhem, was certainly putting the boat bow down in the water, and was having some trouble with his pole. Erin ahead looked to have the victory sealed, and the battle between Mayhem and Gripper gave us second in the J24 fleet. Gripper edged out Mayhem on the line after coming in hot. Centipede (IRW winner) was the next J24 over, just beating out Moxie. Sadiiqi and Tempest followed shortly thereafter, with Jezebel and Ductape rounding out the fleet. Then it was a race to the bar, where a BBQ was provided - I am guessing that Moxie won the race to that.