monday racing

Two races today , the PRO decided not run a third race today because of potential risk of storms and loss of visibility as he said " I have been caught before with a 100 oppies out there and zero visibility" . The wind shifted and the start line could easily be seen from the shore .

Lots of starting practice today in 6 knots with at least ten starts but no Black flags . In the first race the wind came in from the right . Martin started at middle pin and went round the windward mark in mid thirties and got up to twenties  Max chose the pin and this did not pay because he could not cross the fleet as the wind did not shift back left like it usually does.. Jamie enjoyed getting good starts on the abandoned races. 

Second race the wind shifted 60 degrees right and so a completely new direction and oscillating breeze . The ships  caused huge wind shadows and one sailor went from 5th to 35th on the down wind leg. You needed to go low to avoid it. Max first was first round the windward mark and down wind the front group slowed each other down going really high and he was left at 15th at the bottom mark . Max pulled himself to finish 11th. The girl who rounded the leeward mark first because a massive left shift ended up 30th at the finish . so it was all a bit snakes and ladders . Martin went from 25th at leeward mark and took the left went turned into a reach and he finished 9th . The luckiest sailor of the day.

Sailors are complaining we are only mentioning the things that go wrong not the thing that go right so,  so far today everyone remembered to sign on and off , 3 out of 4 organised their own drinks, suncream , had enough breakfast, two remembered their sunglasses, three collected their dry bags out of the rib.

We thought we are going to go for a trip into town and an early supper however Max has got himself  in a protest and so he and Tim are still in the boat park sorting it out and we are waiting for the outcome

Our Sailors reported the PRO said at the morning briefing how impressed he was with the manners of the international sailors because they  acknowledge the Race Boat at the beginning and end of racing . He told the Singaporeans they could learn something from their visitors. Our guys think he is nearly up to Stog level but not quite and he tries to use as few black flags as possible.