For the past 3 days the Natie M. has been in Tortola participating in the Sweethearts Regatta hosted by the West End yacht club. Yesterdays single hand race was exhausting. I spent much too much time practicing the run up to the start line. the winds outside of Sopers Hole were crazy with gusting shifting winds and swirly currents. Got a good start though and was able to cross the line within a minute of my start time. After that I'm afraid it was all downhill, by the point just north of Sandy Cay I was bringing up the rear. The next pin was a small orange marker floating just outside of Great Harbor. Didn't see that sucker until I was a half mile past, in the channel of the harbor itself. Fortunately, most of the other boats missed it too. Winds of course died for the upwind leg. It took 5 tacks to get past Steel point and then the currents and shifting winds made for another 5 or 6 tacks just to get to the finish line. Total distance: half mile! But finish I did, by Gum! Got thouroughly sodden on overpriced rum drinks later on. Won a tote bag! yippee! I hope they reimburse me for my mooring.
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