Once again we had to wait for the wind to fill in for the start. The RC set a course to Mark 5, Gibraltar, Dufferin, T3. We had a reasonable start; mid line.
Balance was clear ahead and we were not going to catch them. Second would be OK for a series win.
The first mark rounding was crowded. Windlight was just ahead; and a Beneteau was just astern and to our windward. There wasn't time to sort out whether or not to fly chute. I said 'wait' as I had not decided; but I guess the chute has an auto hoist setting and it was put up anyway. The chute came down once it was clear that our course was too high. I wanted to stay windward of Windlight. Windlight did not allow us to go to windward and kept us astern. Once we had a good angle to the next mark, we bore away and flew the chute. Windlight now sailed a different course. She definitely gained.
We rounded the mark and and gybed the chute. The layline to the next mark allowed us to fly the chute; but we were at the limit. Windlight had a lower course. They seemed to be unable to fly her chute and sail a course as high as we did. Her lower course meant that at some point she would have to drop her spinnaker in order to make the mark. (I think they had a halyard problem that prevented them from having a good gybe.) At the mark, we were within feet of her stern, i.e. we had gained! We tacked away and went south; Windlight didn't cover. There was a huge wind shift. We got a nice lift to the mark!
At our next crossing we were on port, Windlight was on Starboard. We had to duck, but we could make the mark. (BTW: I am very happy when we have caught other boats!) Windlight had to tack. That extra tack was basically the difference. We beat Windlight by 30 seconds! A great race to end the 2009 season.
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