Start position	Cowes	Start time	10:52	Start engine hours	830.8
Towards	Cowes	ETA	08:28	Distance travelled	19
Finish position	Cowes	Finish time	15:19	Finish engine hours	832
Skipper	Richard	Crew	Louise
Weather	SW 2-3 Sunshine		Tide	HW Portsmouth 09:10, 21:30 LW Cowes 14:20, 1.7m
New faults			Np->Sp %	25

Just the two of us on board today. We’re sticking with the No.1 jib to focus on upwind performance. The ebb tide is running as we position for the start, but not too strongly. The start line, inside ‘Snowden’ and avoiding moorings is very short. We end up on the line on port, with ‘Satellite’ going the other way. There’s nowhere to got but over the line. We’re near the ODM, so it’s not a disaster as we gybe round and head off after the others. The fleet is beating close to Gurnard to get the best tide. Then it’s a a fetch across to Beaulieu. We’re soon back past all but ‘Dorothy’ and ‘Rosenn’ who have left the rest behind. Then back into Thornes Bay, where we just can’t lay the mark. Now downwind trying to avoid the tide and a shifty beat to the finish.
Once ashore we head for RLYC for tea, cake and results. We’ve got 4th place, which is about the best we can expect. We’re going to struggle again in the light winds. Then it’s all round to the Cowes Corinthian Sailing Club for their hog roast.