Today started off dry but a little rain came around 10AM. The first race was scheduled for 11:30. Most of fleet left the beach more than an hour early when we were still getting ready. We were last off the beach and still had more than half an hour before the start to get a feel for the wind. It was blowing around 18 knots and fairly steady. About 7 minutes before the start I got tangled up during a gybe and we capsized. We quickly got up and other self bailer drained thee water before the start.
We got off okay and half way down rt he first windward leg we were probably in the top 15. Then I got tangled up again in a tack and we tipped over again. This time it seemed to take ages to get rid of the water and we lost at least 20 places. The same thing happened on the next windward leg and we lost another 20 places. I'm having trouble changing from transom sheeting where you tack facing backwards to forward sheeting where you tack facing forwards. When I get it wrong I end up in a knot and not able tho move quickly enough. In the end we finished 63rd.
The second race was much better. We started near the port end tacked fairly early and kept on up the right side of the course. We rounded the first and second marks in third place. The courses were a "sausage" then a trapezoid and short windward to the finish. I messed up the first 300m of the next windward and slipped to 6th but we were able to maintain that to the finish.
While Timothy and I were out sailing, Kate, another WA sailors wife, looked after Michael with two of her girls and the Barwood's little boy. They all had a great time from the sounds of it.
After the race we quickly packed up the boat an headed for a shower to beat the queue. Then we relaxed and waited for presentations before helping to set out tables and chairs for the supper do that was on this evening. When that was done Simon and Donna Bar wood, other WA sailors offered to take us to the house they are renting for coffee and a play. They have a lovely house and its a different world from camping.
After dinner all of the children ran around outside for about an hour before I pulled mine in to get ready for bed.
A mixed day that showed up the problems but not the solutions. Hoping for lighter winds tomorrow.
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