Yasmin did brilliantly - I don't think I know any other crew member with such a strong work ethic! We kept the boat really flat in the beats, but ended up near the back of the fleet every time.
I think part of the problem was that the helm (me!) never really got into the "zone". I got my timing wrong at the Starts; in light winds if you don't start well you might as well give up.
Yasmin also thought that I had a tendency to "go wide, both on the beats and on the runs, and this meant we had more distance to cover. I thought we were working the wind-shifts reasonably. However, I guess the lesson is to keep close to the rhumb line in light winds - "bow forward" as I understand the late Richard Estaugh used to say.
The first race was so slow that it was abandoned. Then the sea breeze kicked in and we had two further races. Our final position was 14th out of 21 entries. Although, in practice, all of those behind us were "DNC", and we only really beat Den Valentine - by just one point.
A humbling experience. But all experience is good if you take advantage of it.
Photo by Mike Millard of Poole Yacht Club shows 13941 with Spinnaker.
Mike's photo sets are here: Mike Millard Flickr Albums
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