Rounding the first mark

Underway

Colintraive reception

This was the weekend of the Euroyacht Fun Race from Largs to Colintraive.  It was organised as a pursuit race with a staggered start so the slowest boats start first and the fastest last, based on their handicap.  As to the result, well in horse racing terminology Tarawa "also ran".  Saying that we were 7th out of 10 mainly because I mucked up the start and was about 3 minutes late getting across the line. It was a gusty old wind at the start so I had put a reef into the main, which was needed when we were in the Largs Channel, but then once out into the Firth the wind dropped so we lost a bit of time with it in and then shaking it out.  It was a run all the way to Colintraive in the SE'ly and we managed to overtake three other boats on the way, then the whole fleet was overtaken by the last boat to start, a Sun Fast 40 which just left everyone standing and was first over the line and hence won. 

Great reception ashore at the Colintraive Hotel with a buffet and lots of Loch Fyne beer before the prize-giving, for the night we moved round to Wreck Bay and had a quiet night there at anchor in the shelter of Bute.  This morning the 06:00 forecast was SE'ly 5 or 6 increasing 8 so we upped anchor and bashed into it via the Tang Channel at Millport.  The wind was getting up all the way so it justified the early start, we were back alongside at Largs by 11:00.

Thanks to Angus and David from Euroyachts for organising everything and for the great reception, and also to Julie and Lynne for crewing and putting up with me.