ODIN Trophy, 2nd March 2008
With a S-SE wind forecast of 20-25 kt but only around 10-15kt by 9am on Sunday morning, I thought that we might get some reprieve from the BOM’s outlook. Their bulletin did mention that they had sent up a weather balloon and there were high level winds at or above their prediction and that these would probably move down as the day warmed up. Ah, well, another windy passage?
The start time was delayed till about a quarter past ten, by which time there were five boats manoeuvring nearby. Obviously the conditions in the previous weekend race (GBR) had decimated both man and machine. On Beats Workin we had been hovering around the start line since well before ten anyway but, with only three persons on board, had trouble seeing the start flags. So we were last to start. Boss Racing got a good start, Cut Snake decided to start but then withdrew. The other starters were Renaissance (start boat) and Viento.
We managed to hold off the latter two boats all the way around St Helena Island, in fact till after we rounded the Compass Adjustment Buoy and we weren’t too far behind them even at North Reef Beacon. The ability to run square in the 15-20kt breeze was a real advantage and it gave us the chance to sit down to a fine seafood lunch provided by Michelle. After that the fleet pulled steadily away on the beat back toward the next mark (Brisbane Roads Buoy). Along there somewhere, we heard that Boss had retired hurt and she passed ahead of us under motor just before we rounded that mark. The crew were all out on the lee hull, looking very wet and very sad. We surmised that the damage they had suffered was to their windward (port) hull. From here down to Pearl Red, we got occasional glimpses of Renaissance and Viento against Moreton Island on their way home. That was the order in which they finished. On our beat back, now hours behind the leaders, we put in a second reef when the bows began to plunge into the occasional 2-3 metre wave and water came over the cabin. The wind was well above the forecast 25kt by now so we eased sheets just a little and went low for power so as to get in behind the protection of Mud Island as fast as possible. Some of the strongest wind all day hit us at about 1730 as we beat back up along Mud Island. Our finish time before half after six did not really reflect the boats capacity as we had made a slight but very significant navigation error earlier in the afternoon. It was a relief to take off our sails and motor back to harbour with a very cold and very welcome XXXX in hand – the first of the day for the thirst we had all day. Exhausting exercise but well worth the efforts of our race manager, Mike Hodges.
David Maguire
Immediate Past Commodore
Added Note:
Well done David but you forgot to mention going to the wrong end of the Pearl Channel ,I know Allan is carrying the can for the navi-guessing but you need to share this stuff with us !!!!
Mike Hodges
