Jackie Gay

After a great first race, things have got tough again out here in Skud world. We have been sailing well with good boat speed and starts, but the racing is close and we always seem to be on the wrong side of a very tight pack. The winds have been light, shifty and patchy, with long postponements on two days.

Limp flags and very quiet waters beyond…

And yesterday we had what our coach calls a ‘racing day’ when one mistake in each race cost us 4 or 5 places. In the first race we tacked too close to another boat coming into the windward mark and had to do a 360 degree penalty; then in the second race we gybed out of the last whisper of a dying breeze after being first to the windward mark. Frustrating!

We are one point above our rivals in the trials which of course is too close for comfort. But there should be more breeze today and we are keeping our heads up.

Today will be our day!

And here is a great picture of us training in a nice breeze before the regatta started.

The waters of Biscayne Bay hold many secrets and surprises.
Out sailing a couple of days ago in fitful, fluky and spooky light airs we saw what looked like plastic bags looming out of the water, then realised that the ominous blue frill around them indicated deadly poison.

Then into the dock came this creature

A manatee, or sea cow. They are the size of cows too! They come into the dock for a drink of fresh water from the hose pipes, very endearing with their big seal-like eyes; but the propellor scars and barnacles on their backs tell a different story.

Then yesterday we were hooning downwind in 20+ knots and came to a juddering halt as we hooked a lobster pot with our keel. Fortunately no damage that we can see but it was a heart-stopping moment.

Day off today (although I am don’t think I’ll be able to keep away from a bit of boat tweaking…), then registration for the regatta tomorrow, boats back in the water and a test sail before racing starts on Monday.

This is it!

A bit of a set back here… I fell over and have dislocated my finger, it was at a 90 degree angle (the wrong way) and I had to click it back into place. I was contemplating putting a picture up here but have just taken one and it looks even worse in a photograph than real life so I’ll spare you that!

The doctors say all I can do is strap it, ice it and take painkillers so that’s what I’m doing.

The regatta starts a week today, 28th January so send lots of healing powers over the ocean. We still have boat preparation to do and were hoping to get more training hours in, but the fates have blown different challenges our way.

Thanks for your messages and responses.

Your all Greek mythically
Jxx