We tried to hide from the big 2 metre tide that was a maximum run in by going for the Birchgrove shore only to be thwarted by a big lift out in the middle that carried four of the fleet past us from 200 metres behind.
Our evening started well with the selection of the repaired No 2 genoa, a good start and a better line out wide from Greenwich. Down low on the broad reach to Cockatoo Island we had a better angle to lead at the turn. Down the Cockatoo shore the square run meant we were blanketed from behind but we managed to find enough clear air to round Cockatoo ahead. By now the breeze had build to 20 knots and our No 2 and plenty of backstay was proving a good selection for the beat to windward. So well were we travelling that we cleared Cockatoo with a good lead and chose to take the knock into Birchgrove to get out of the tide. Unfortunately the tacking angles meant we were going back and forward across the tide which produced some horrible tracks on the chart plotter.

Whoa! Big tide and unfavorable wind shift phasing made for awful tracks.

The fleet behind received a big lift which allowed them to do a straight line to Long Nose while we travelled twice the distance to get back to their line.
Worlds Apart had steamed through, Izzi out even wider was outperforming her handicap and Avanti with a clean bottom was back to her best performance.
Around Goat the super quick Dehler 38 and Gwhizz were benefiting from a good quirt of following wind. We went wide to avoid the wind shadow around Goat while the Dehler 38 and Gwhizz found enough wind to power through the wind shadow above us.
Now I was feeling a bit depressed as we had gone from an early lead back to sixth place using quite reasonable tactical decisions. The run back to Cockatoo was no fun as the fleet with their larger head sails were enjoying the lighter and more free conditions. Our only hope was for a return of wind on the beat back through Humbug. We got our wish and started to catch up along the Hunters Hill shore. At the first sign of softness in the breeze we eased the back stay and powered up the head sail and with a lucky lift along the Onion Point shore managed to make up a couple of places and a fair chunk of time on the fleet.

With the Laser still making the way back from Mandurah we took the opportunity to enter Passion in her first Greenwich Flying Squadron down harbour race.  Ron celebrating his birthday came all the way from Manly to sail all the way back again and possibly would have jumped ship and swam ashore if he had know what a slow ride we would have back home. In a fresh breeze we swept out of Humbug ahead of larger and faster yachts and held a good position relative to our peers while the breeze was fresh. The outgoing tide was sweeping us along at a good rate and making the tacking angles on the chart plotter look spectacular.

Passion tacking angles with an outgoing tide

Mid harbour as the breeze lightened we took an unfavourable knock which allowed Gwhiz to catch us. In the dying breeze we never looked like catching her again although we did get up to her transom on the turn at Manly East. Now we had turned against the tide and with the wind dropping to 6 knots we made very slow progress. Around Fort Denison we changed course to avoid a large P&O liner exiting with excited passengers while we wallowed along. A check of the race time limit gave us no reprieve as the limit was 5 hours so we hung on to the slow end to finish our first Down Harbour Race. A special thanks to Ron for crewing on his birthday.

For our first twilight race of 2015 the winds were well in excess of forecast with one competitor sighting a reading of 30 knots. Sensible sailors withdrew in the gusty conditions while we battled on against round up after round up as the bullets hit the fleet.
We had set the North No 1 on the furler for the evening. This is quite flat and has been cut down with a good leech hollow so it suits wind conditions from 15 to 20 knots. For the first running legs of the race we set the full main and lead the fleet around the islands. On the work back up along the Hunters Hill shore we put in a reef losing only 20 metres in the process. That allowed the Dehler 38 to slip by to leeward but on the next favourable wind shift we snuck back into the lead which we held until the headsail tack snap shackle broke. We had two spare snap shackles attached at the bow off the furler so it took just a few moments to ease the genoa halyard and reattach the tack. That was long enough for the Dehler to sweep by and that was the last contact we had with this speedster.
Worlds Apart was now on our transom and we held them to Goat Island but had to tack to clear the mark while they had the extra 5 metres needed to round inside us. The time lost in the two tacks also allowed Izzi to overtake us in the lee of Goat so we had three boats to follow home.
In desparation we took out the reef to hold out a fast finishing French Connection but as we did so the wind reappeared with a vengance making the work up Humbug all the more dangerous. Fortunately for us the crew on French Connection noticed our predicament and pulled away for safety which allowed us to carry on to the lay line to the finish. They were not rewarded for their kindness as the green division yacht to windward of them was slow to respond on Onion Point leaving French Connection stalled within metres of the shore. Post race they assured me they did not hit bottom but it must have been close.
For our efforts Izzi was first, Passion second and French Connection third so they did not go home empty handed.

With the Laser on the way to Perth Saturday was free for Elaine and I to enter Passion in the Greenwich Flying Squadron Saturday race.

It was a picture perfect day for a race with the only downside a burnt face from the sun reflected back from the water. Despite wearing a wide brimmed hat all day I have suffered from not putting on the sun screen. On the course we did not expect to be competitive as we were not going to set spinnakers so we set ourselves the modest expectations of having a good time. After a few tacks we got into a routine of Elaine loading up the new sheet on the winch and letting the old one off as we tacked. Unfortunately the genoa clew kept catching on the stanchions and life lines which meant Elaine had to take the helm while I dashed forward so we tacked as little as possible.

Between us we got quite a work out. Elaine wore her knees out on the non skid so a set of knee pads will be in order for the next occasion we do a two hander. We achieved our objective of having a good time and were quite happy that we kept in touch with the fleet.

Tracks for Saturday’s race at GFS

Just as I wished last week the rain held off for the Christmas party at Greenwich Flying Squadron. With all the sad news from the past few days it was hard to get into the festive spirit. At times like this I recite the lines from one of Milton’s poems about the bird that visited his window. “Then to come in spite of sorrow and at my window bid good morrow” The sailing was not up to the result we expect due mostly to the state of the antifouling.

This has been the longest Passion has gone without new antifouling so I will book her in in the New Year and see if we cannot get back to the front of the fleet. The new stiffer batten in the top of the main does free the leech of the sail but it is getting caught on the back stay especially in the lighter conditions. At least twice we had to drop the main halyard to get the sucker to go through the back stay so I guess the running back stays on Next Passion will be no more trouble.Our tracks on the course looks spectacular with the help of the run out tide. Everyone else’s tracks must have looked outrageously good judging by the time we finished behind.

Crew and friends at the BBQ

The bright spot for the evening was definitely the raft up and BBQ with live entertainment and some traditional carols to get us into the Christmas mood. We packed in over 250 people and the social committee and twilight crew did a marvelous job. The raffle raised $1800 of which $900 was donated to the Salvation Army and that amount has already reached them.

Today I pottered around on Next Passion fitting the chain plate supports and preparing the cockpit underside for reinforcing fibreglass. Elaine washed the Santa Hats from last night and they looked cute hanging on the line so here is the photo for the week.

Santa hats washed and drying for next year with Next Passion under tarps in the distance

Kingplank spanning eight floors and extending back into the engine bearer structure

The keel king plank is installed two days ahead of schedule. The plans call for a 15 mm by 150 mm king plank and rather than plane down an 18 mm plank I used the full 18 mm thickness. That saved a bit of time but the real time saver was not having to spline glue the plank in sections. Because the frames behind the keel in the 40Cr version are spaced further apart than in the 38 version the whole length of the king plank could be slid into position in one go.
It is hard to get a good picture but here is a section with the clamp still in place while the glue dries.

An unwelcome big lift arrived just as we had to tack off the Birchgrove shore

It is getting more difficult to stay at the front of the Blue fleet at Greenwich Flying Squadron. Agrovation, the Jeanneau 379 has a larger No 1 genoa and both Izzi the Northshore 38 and French Connection the Jeanneau 38 are sporting new genoas. The new Dehler 38 is a bigger faster boat and as the crew gain more experience they are picking up fastest times. Worlds Apart will be back soon and we will be lucky to score in the top three.
With more fast yachts in the fleet we are not breaking away and as a result have to contend with slowing tactics from competitors and cannot sail our preferred lines. We did manage a second fastest on Wednesday night despite some unlucky timing of wind shifts which favoured the following yachts. Once the Dehler 28 was clear in the lead we were left to fend off multiple challenges to our second fastest position most notably from French Connection who seemed mighty pleased to be giving us a scare all night.
For a second week we took Out of Africa’s stern on the way through Humbug but this week there was more room to spare and no fright night on board Out of Africa.
We had the big black genoa up and as much power as we needed so there was no time for photos. Hopefully next week we will get back into tourist mode and have some happy snaps to show.

Tonight Gosford Laser sailors made up four of six the sailors on board. The welcome addition of two extra seasoned sailors made up for the otherwise occupied regular crew and to show our appreciation we managed a second fastest time.
Genoa selection was vital for a good result. The wind was gusting to 20 knots pre race and was expected to lighten in the evening. With the unfamiliar crew we opted for the roller furling No2 Genoa and were rewarded with a good run to Spectacle Island to lead the fleet at the turn. On the reach to Snapper Island the new Dehler 38 showed that power and waterline length are king in strong reaching conditions and by Snapper she had the inside overlap. To windward working to Goat Island we held the rest of the fleet at bay but had to watch as the Dehler 38 drew further ahead. With the incoming tide there were no fancy tracks to windward.

No fancy tracks tonight

On the reach back from Goat in lighter conditions we had to watch Agrovation with their larger No 1 genoa approach our stern. With a bit of luck a ferry intervened and Agrovation took the route into the lee of Greenwich while we went wider and had more wind. The final tacks into Humbug were difficult as three fleets merged in the narrow water ways in shifty conditions. We tacked away to avoid one round up below and took the starboard tacking Out of Africa’s stern only to have to tack immediately to Starboard to avoid the next line of Starboard tackers. From here we had to pinch to stay above Out of Africa and keep ahead of Agrovation.
Handicap placings were close and we managed a fourth place

Good tracks for a shifty night

With a full crew back on deck the black genoa was hoisted and the improvement in performance was welcome. Right from the start we were in first or second place and we finished second fastest and second on handicap. To be fair to Passion we were a bit unlucky as we lead around Cockatoo Island by a good margin only to have Agrovation pick up a huge lift from behind. After that we stayed with them all the way to Goat Island only to be forced beyond the lay line by a black fleet J boat. In that delay Agrovation skipped out to half a minute lead.
At this stage the rest of the blue fleet was a few minutes behind but we had the company of the overtaking black fleet to keep us amused. We were pleased with the puff from behind on the way back to Long Nose. This private breeze brought us up to the stern of Agrovation and we made up ground on the black fleet. Agrovation was not about to let us slip through and she carefully covered us all the way to the finish.
Worlds Apart was involved in a pre race incident and did not make the start but the other boat to beat, the new Dehler 38, was behind at the finish so we must have done something right and the tracks indicate as much.

Yes I am quick to write up our victories and slow to comment on our failures and last night was a last place on handicap.
Travel commitments and illness have taken their toll on our crew numbers so we sailed with our old North Genoa which is easy to skirt but short on area and shape. The longer the race went the lighter the breeze and the more we needed the extra power of our big black genoa.
As well as the sail selection we did not get a good run of the wind shifts nor a free passage through the black fleet from behind or the green fleet from ahead. Add to this the fact that the antifouling is getting to the end of its useful life and there is hope that we can get back on our game.
There were some bright spots for the day. Joe Walsh had changed out our genoa halyard pulley for one that turns freely and I managed to install a new shower pump in the bathroom on Passion. Today I picked up a replacement Starboard navigation light cover and by next week all the outstanding jobs on Passion bar the antifouling will be completed.
The post race raft up at GFS was excellent as always and the conditions perfect for a late night motor to the mooring at Woolwich and a quiet row home.

After three weeks away and last weeks “chicken out” it was time to give Passion some of the care she deserves. The day was spent cleaning the teak decking and cockpit and washing out the fridge. Two fire extinguishers were replaced with new ones and the chart table contents were sorted and old sailing instructions confined to the rubbish bin. The diesel tank was topped up with an extra 10 litres and two trips were made to the Woolwich ferry wharf to collect water for cleaning and topping up the tanks.
As for the racing we were short handed with crew commitments elsewhere. In fact with just Frank and Ron to support Elaine and me we had more fire extinguishers on board than crew members. In consideration of the small crew I hoisted the North tri radial genoa as it is the easiest to skirt. That was a good move as the breeze freshened considerably at the start of the race and any more sail area would have been a problem.
Our best move of the evening was to tack wide of the Birchgrove shore and hook into a lift which brought us up near the front of the fleet. We were ahead of Worlds Apart when a green fleet starboard tacker decided he needed to put us about more than he needed to tack for the turning mark at Goat Island. This unexpected move caught us completely off guard as we had to tack to Starboard with no time to uncleat the genoa. We were stuck in this hove to position for quite a while and saw Worlds Apart and the new Dehler 38 go bye.
Considering the small crew we were pleased with the results. We all got a good work out and apart from a minor bruise we seemed to all come through the event unscathed.
Next week Frank is away but hopefully Kath and Kevin and Martin will be back on board.

I have just glued up the third keel frame on the floor jig as the first and second frames produced this way are a good fit to the stringers. Because the frame is glued up square to the jig and the gap between the stringers tapers a taper has to be planed or filed onto the edge of the frame for a perfect fit. The taper is negligible near the keel where the maximum strength is required and the manufacture of the frames on the floor is most convenient.

Clamping blocks screwed to the particle board floor ready for clamping the third keel floor

The starters on duty at GFS

Not really chicken as we love a bit of wind on board Passion but the delay in the flight from Paris via Saigon used up all the time and energy we would have needed to sail last night. We did make it to the yacht club to see the start of the racing and stay for the BBQ.

The Vice Commodore wins the Green Fleet start

The J35 Soundtrack wins the Black start well

The season finished in sunshine with winds that gusted over 20 knots and switched wildly from side to side. We set the No 2 genoa having learnt a lesson from last week when we outsmarted ourselves with the big black genoa. Even that was too much for the breeze that swept through as we turned at the heads for the beat home. Those clever helmsmen who tacked on the mark and headed for the Sow and Pigs picked up the shift of the season and were a minute ahead in seconds. We hung on below the fleet hoping for the switch back that never came . We were even denied the little lift we needed to clear Steel Point so we had a couple of extra tacks on the fleet for our troubles. Allegro and Larrikin were keeping us company in the wind shift woes so our boat speed was not a concern. The work from Rose Bay back to Point Piper was fair enough but the phasing of the breeze as we rounded Shark Island was not favourable. We were lifted when approaching the shore and had to tack away from the lift for deep water on a couple of occasions that cost us dearly and Silky passing us on the last work was a disappointment. The only surprise was that we finished further up the fleet than we expected. Our protagonists from last week, Enigma and L’Eau’Co finished behind on time with L’Eau’Co making our mistake of last week and setting too big a genoa.
Overall it was a good season. We had a string of very good results mid season and beat our mark boats more often than not. The breezes have been better than average for winter and only a few slow races. We have had no gear breakage other than a worn out genoa sheet and importantly no physical injuries to crew.
The racing finished with the protest hearing from last weeks Northshore Sandwich and we were exonerated keeping intact our no protest losses and no insurance claims record.