PORTLAND-MORESBY RE-RUN, 31st OCTOBER, 2004

We did complete this race although we had some doubts for the first hour or so. Seven

boats were out and we delayed the start 15 mins. to allow the observed wind to get to

The race really did not get started until we were past the Channel Islands at which point

FINAL DASH and ALACRITY elected to go counter-clockwise. FANDANGO and SOUL

DANCER followed our lead while YEOMAN, ELECTRA and WESTWIND tried their luck

clockwise.

For the next 15 miles or so it turned out to be a grand day with speed rarely below 5

knots and often 6 knots. For the counter-clockwise team the spinnakers were up at

Pelorus Point and we settled in to the long run home. FINAL DASH leading, followed by

ALACRITY, FANDANGO and SOUL DANCER. As the alternate routes converged we

saw ELECTRA rounding Beaver Point to parallel FINAL DASH, and YEOMAN to parallel

ALACRITY, and so it stayed to well past the Channel Islands.

The Spinnaker poles were now as far forward as possible and the big sail sheeted hard

as the wind was on or a little forward of the beam. FANDANGO went to a headsail and

we were mightily impressed with her progress until we realized that she was also

motoring.YEOMAN put the motor on around Batt Rock while ALACRITY, who was

gaining on the leaders, was trying all manner of tweaking to get that extra 0.1 knot.

SOUL DANCER and WESTWIND were behind but going well.

It all fell apart off Goat Island, the light airs became fickle, spinnakers were doused and

headsails raised to urge reluctant vessels the last two hundred yards. The ‘DASH’ with

lots of sail and little weight was the most successful at this exercise. Roger’s expert

sense of the least amount of wind was next, although it took about 40 minutes to get to

the line. This left ALACRITY with lots of weight and little sail adrift in the dark watching

assorted fire-works displays. Eventually a little wind came from Ganges and we

completed. SOUL DANCER had left us on the course and WESTWIND was motoring in

as we tied up.

The results are time on time.

Bob Jones,

ALACRITY