Daylight between Panacea and anyone else

Panacea went out for her final race of this year in the MHYC short series. The forecast was for sort of light winds somewhere between the NE & SE.

Light wind it was and from North of Nth East. It was settling in to be very warm and humid. Started a little behind the fleet but with clear air. Panacea was enjoying the clear air and seemed to be climbing higher that the two new Hanses'.

We actually knew the course! Will the miracles ever cease! Off we tacked to do the Manly West Manly East dance and head off for South Reef mark at Sow & Pigs.

With superior tactical skill Panacea resisted the pole and sail dead downwind option. Instead gybed the angles and pulled away. Heading into Chowder Bay we were well on our way.

Team coordination has settled into a good rhythm tacking and gybing got smoother the more the race progressed. We had a clear beat to Manly Point and we managed to stay clear of ferries and other boats. The last run and the wind was dying we ran the angles again and luckily just missed a huge wind hole under the North Head cliffs. We gybed buggered about with pole just to give Tracey something to do but in the end ran the angles round south reef. Our competition again struggled with the pole option and overshot the south reef mark. Back he went to round the mark much to our good fortune. Last leg and it felt good getting the gun.

It was hot and sweaty and the water went down before the beer. As the wind was light we had a go with the spinnaker and were delighted it went up and hauled Panacea along at over 6 knots in about 9 knots of breeze. Shannon then learned that for every joy of having a spinnaker run came the joy of packing it. Luckily Chris was the teacher so it all happened in short time.

A satisfying end to the years sailing. Can't wait for it starting up again in the new year