Nemesis, Malgas and Jellybaby contested this medium distance race around Bellbouy and out to Nqgura. The forecast rain and strong winds discouraged more entrants, but the wet and gale were delayed, with the yachts tacking in light, clear winds for nearly all of the 5 hours of the race.
The rain just got them in the last 3 minutes of the chase! Jellybaby (John Tudehope – 5h27m08s) took 1st place on handicap, followed by Malgas (Aubrey Cullum – 5h35m30s) and Nemesis (Tony Bailes – 5h38m03s).
The bar banter after the race revealed the real hardship (?):
The 10h00 sharp start did not deter certain members of the Jellybaby family from faffing around in her moorings at the time the start horn sounded.
With Nemisis and Malgas well on their way and cackling at Jellybaby’s tardiness Jellybaby was dealt another hammer blow to catching up when they were denied permission to leave Port and had to stand helplessly by to watch a Trawler limping into Port with the staggering movement of a drunken seaman on shore leave.
With that obstacle out of the way it appeared all systems go for Jellybaby as she started to pick her skirts up and chase the leading yachts.
But, more mayhem was to follow when Sean Wiseman, having neglected to read his cellphone manual – specifically the part that instructs the user how to turn his phone OFF – took a SOS call from work, Yup you guessed it – this THIRD hillock in the race meant that Jellybaby had to turn around and head for home, only for the client to call back to say; “Problem sorted”. The now dizzy crew finally got to start the race and head out for some serious catching up on the other 2 ‘stoves and cushions and ablutions’ boats with several more hands which were nowhere to be seen as Jellybaby was still inside the harbour – game on.
Once outside the harbour a a tactical turn allowed them to reach the Bellbouy 1st and set for a broad-reach to the Coega Port Mark.
Nemesis crossed the bow of Jellybaby at the PE Safewater mark and, at the Coega Port Mark was 4 min ahead.
With the wind freshening a sail change from the Number 1 jib down to the Number 3 which helped keep Jellybaby’s time cap inside of Nemesis as they charged down for the win.
Malgas also had a great sail enjoying her new “bow-sprit” and assymetrical.
All in all a good sail which ended with a serious down pour at the finish giving the boats a much needed wash off.
