Forecast was for a building South Westerly which would have indicated going for the No. 3 but due to the light airs in the start area (Royal London) we opted for the No. 1 which turned out to be a mistake. Reasonable start at a rather crowded pin end of the line.  Beat all the way down the Solent to Hurst with a steadily building breeze, started loosing out as we were over pressed so put a reef in.  Past the Needles lighthouse it was sheets eased and tried to shake the reef out but it had got caught on the leach line.  Once sorted it was a pretty good leg to St Cats with bigger boats putting up their A sails but it was too tight and gusty for our kite.  Once past St Cats we hoisted the kite but shortly afterwards needed to gybe it, as it was pretty gusty by then we debated dropping the kite for the gybe but in the end went ahead in a lull.  Gybe went OK initially but got a big wrap but it came out pretty well.  Approaching Bembridge we caught  Skua IV who had dropped their kite early but our kite drop at the mark went a bit awry when the sheet came off and required the kite recovery from the bow.  Had our usual issues with getting round Ryde sands  including dodging a one design fleet racing across us.  By Sandshead Post Skua had got back in front of us and remained ahead till the finish.  Quite a good dice with them all the way up the Solent but as it turned out we were fighting for last place on corrected.

GPS Track

Rounding The Needles