Monday 20 June 2022

Day 4 started off rather breezy with a couple nerves that were quickly replaced by hot chocolate and giggles! 

Jalapeño was the first boat out the harbour and we quickly set to work getting comfortable with the conditions by hoisting our bag and having a giggle-filled sing-along down wind. After Allyssa insisted that we had enough spinnaker footage and reminded us that she needed arm muscle reserves for the race we dropped the bag and got our settings in place, dropped the jib and waited for the start.

With Keira perched at the bow like Jalapeño’s very own figurehead holding the jib from flogging about we hung around the start in good spirits.

The bridge went into the start sequence, we pulled up the jib and were ready to head up the beat with sails in and weight up when a strange sound followed by an even stranger maneuver happened… Petro described it perfectly as those little thumb toys you pressed the button underneath and they collapsed… Well, that’s exactly what happened to our mast when our starboard inner stay had had enough and dismissed itself from service. 

A moment of stunned silence passed before we worked out what to do next. We quickly got to work “dropping” the jib and pulling our newly compact mast out from under the boat and back onboard.

In the process of releasing the main halyard to bring the mainsail out the water, Randolph who had been helping on bridge, hopped onto the rescue craft and came to assist. We made quick work of securing the main and mast, rolling the jib and preparing to be towed home.

Despite the rather shocking and sad event, our girls pulled together as a team and ended up with a chatty and banterful ride home. What a pleasure to know that in a moment of surprise/ disaster our team remains calm and gets on with it. You ladies are full of grit and steel!

We are so grateful that no one was injured and that minimal damage occured during our demasting. Little miracles and blessings around us! 

Our ride home was escorted by a South Polar Skua (a big brown sea bird) flying around us in graceful glides.

On our tow home, we quickly posted a request on the J22 skipper group for help replacing the mast. We are overwhelmed by the quick responses, concern and offers of support we have received. The quality of fellow sailors makes us so grateful to be part of this sport! 

Only one race was sailed before prize giving was held at Point Yacht Club beach site. Thank you to the organising & race committee, mark layers, rescue craft and volunteers involved in making this regatta possible! 

Well done to everyone who took the time to come sail and put a last great training event in before worlds in 2 weeks. 

Final results are below. Officially less than two weeks to worlds!