Panacea on a Wednesday Evening
Panacea ventured out for a Wednesday twilight race last week. Captain Paul and First Mate looked out from the dock, dogs were flying past after being blown off their chains.
Crews on the dock were looking down and around. A flurry of activity to get the smaller sails rigged.
RBO (Rich Boat Owner) showed up with a young couple in tow. Here's our crew she said and the regular crew wont make it this evening. Experience, the young pommy bloke has sailed before but not racing and the Singaporean a sailing first timer.
Captain looked at 1st mate and the 2nd reef was put in the main. General instructions were delivered on the way to the start line. 20-25 knots blowing across the deck. The excitement steps up once the main is up and the scrap of jib rolled out. The pom gets stuck in and does the countdown to the start. Boats crowd in and its difficult to find a good slot and the crew are wide eyed. We cross mid fleet and tack over to port early to get clear air. The couple are coping well, the Captain calm. Panacea gets caught up in a few right of way calls crew react well but we lose ground heading to the mark. Round we go and unfurl all the headsail for the downwind leg. A bit more relaxed & the RBO is put to work as barmaid, with beers all round.
A twirl around Shark Island and then head for the finish. We congratulate the couple only to discover they aren't a couple and this is the first time they had met. They worked well as a team especially considering the wind. Both were over the moon with the experience.
Good old Panacea living up to her name.
The beer in the club was sweet and we couldn't care less where we came. Well we did but new it wasn't going to be pretty.
Wed night twilights the ultimate mid week pick me up.
Crews on the dock were looking down and around. A flurry of activity to get the smaller sails rigged.
RBO (Rich Boat Owner) showed up with a young couple in tow. Here's our crew she said and the regular crew wont make it this evening. Experience, the young pommy bloke has sailed before but not racing and the Singaporean a sailing first timer.
Captain looked at 1st mate and the 2nd reef was put in the main. General instructions were delivered on the way to the start line. 20-25 knots blowing across the deck. The excitement steps up once the main is up and the scrap of jib rolled out. The pom gets stuck in and does the countdown to the start. Boats crowd in and its difficult to find a good slot and the crew are wide eyed. We cross mid fleet and tack over to port early to get clear air. The couple are coping well, the Captain calm. Panacea gets caught up in a few right of way calls crew react well but we lose ground heading to the mark. Round we go and unfurl all the headsail for the downwind leg. A bit more relaxed & the RBO is put to work as barmaid, with beers all round.
A twirl around Shark Island and then head for the finish. We congratulate the couple only to discover they aren't a couple and this is the first time they had met. They worked well as a team especially considering the wind. Both were over the moon with the experience.
Good old Panacea living up to her name.
The beer in the club was sweet and we couldn't care less where we came. Well we did but new it wasn't going to be pretty.
Wed night twilights the ultimate mid week pick me up.
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