Another 4th

We had a very mixed day today with a great start, a nasty spinnaker wrap quickly unwrapped by Celine. Then some long tacks to Pentacost Island with good speed and then a big spinnaker run back.
And we came 4th which is very pleasing given the glitches. We have high hopes for tomorrow.


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Pinnacleadas reach the Pinnacle

This morning, still high on the tug of war victory, our boat people accompanied by Julie climbed the mountain on Hamilton Island. Then they came down and cooked us all a very fine brunch.


Celine and Karen


Julie


Dee


The view from the top.

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A disappointing day

Today we didn't do so well. With a strong current flowing across the start line we chose to be cautious which meant we started a bit late. And we never caught up. But our day was put into perspective when we saw another Sunsail yacht very high and dry on Plum Pudding Island. Our 13th didn't seem so bad. And when Team Pinnacle combined with three girls from Shazam won the ladies tug of war from the women from Guilty Pleasure we cheered up no end. Now we have a battle to convince Race Week and Henri Lloyd that if they want the entertainment of the girls they should give them a prize as well. And tonight is full moon. Life is not so bad.


The yacht aground


Moon over Hammo

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7th

We came 7th. We hope that will help our handicap as they seem to be changing quite dramatically.
And we caught up with Chantelle from Mabuzi who printed our fabulous tshirts to Dee Mason's very excellent design.

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Day 2

Another gorgeous day at Hamilton Island. There was a brief delay to the start and then we were away with a good start. A little overreaching saw us get a bit close to the bottom near Plum Pudding Island. After recovering we got on a great tack (we go faster on starboard and it was a starboard tack ) we rounded White Rock then Denman Island and up went our lovely spinnaker and we headed for home overtaking a few other boats in our category. The crew again were awesome and another day ended with smiles on our faces. Results yet to come.

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Good result on day one

In very light breeze the scheduled start of 10.30 wasn't looking too promising. The race committee kept us ashore until 11.30 and then sent us all around the island to Cats Eye Beach for a scrunched up start. We eventually got away in a light wind and headed for a distant buoy then a big rock, a little island called Ann. On the way we held off some much bigger boats, specially on starboard tack. Then with an excellent spinnaker hoist and set we set course for Pine Island only to be told the race had been shortened to a few hundred meters ahead. We kept sailing anyway and found we went very well and passed several more boats on the run home. Our faithful support boat Mathilde followed us round the course except when they stopped for lunch. It was a happy crew that arrived back at the marina for gin and tonic. And then we found we had come 4th. A great result for day one. Not too hard on the handicap but still up there. And we beat all the other charter boat in our division which might stop some of the slightly patronizing "you're all girls," comments.

Practice Day

After decorating the boat and sorting some of the logistics yesterday today was a full on practice day. We headed out from Hamilton in very light wind and set the sails. After finding some breeze we did several spinnaker hoists and gybes and worked out how to drop it into the anchor well. That was a suggestion from out Sunsail briefing guy and has turned out to be a good idea. We found a number of things that needed fixing and they have all been sorted since we got back.

Tomorrow is the first race and it is the Molle Island race. A big circuit from Hamilton around all the islands and back to Hammo.









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