Welcome to Yachting Girls

Welcome to a blog where the adventures of a team of crazy women who are mad about sailing can be shared.
We are living in the beautiful Huon Valley in Tasmania, surrounded by outstanding sailing waters.  In June 2007 my husband and I purchased a Columbia 27 cruising yacht.  My husband crews in a Top Hat 24 in the races held by the Port Cygnet Sailing Club so our yacht was going to sit idle for most of the sailing season.  A great idea came to us - lets have an all women crew and take on the men!

Follow our adventures...share our laughs...cheer us on...

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Twilight Race 6

Yacht racing is truly an addictive sport. The predicted weather for last night's race was for rain and winds of 25-30 knots. It started to rain mid afternoon although the fresh winds were not to eventuate.  A text message on the mobile phone, from helmswoman Anne, wondering whether we were still going to race came as a result of Phil of Shiraz deciding it was too cold and wet and canceling Anne's husband's sail. (Stephen crews for Phil). My theory was that cold and wet were not as big an issue as strong winds so suggested that we still went along.  All the crew decided that was the go. What an evening! Coach Phil came along for the ride and we had a great time. It may have been pouring with rain and the wind may have only been a whisper for the bulk of the race but we really enjoyed the experience. We found the delicate winds really trying but for once we really sailed well in such conditions. With Phil giving hints on sail trimming and angles to the wind we made an excellent start and were close to the lead for most of the first leg. This was a down wind leg and with a slight increase in wind from behind, the fleet bunched up at the first mark. It was touch and go there for a while with a yacht trying to cut across our bows however we made it around the mark safely and had a nice reach across the bay, continually jousting with other yachts for position. The lighter yachts made better headway on the run back to the line and we had some good competitive sailing. The race was shortened because of the light winds so the race finished at the end of the final leg of the triangle. It was a pleasant low key race with few high speed sail changes. A more tactical race needing a good understanding of the wind conditions and tides.  

This race saw our best result yet in the Twilight races. We were in 4th place on handicap out of a fleet of  fifteen yachts. We were loudly cheered in the club house at the announcement and people were complementing us on our good performance. The general support by the club members is great!  So who was cold and wet? The adrenaline rush meant we barely felt the weather. This is addiction.
'Til next time...good saiing

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