This pic was from the helicopter yesterday ©Loris Von Siebenthal with a bit of evidence that I am managing good starts (I’m at the bottom with the black deck!)

Today was a mixed bag with lots of carnage and breakages across the fleet. Once again the wind came in and was howling with gusts again in the 20s.

I had the same problems with a “wandering rudder” and this time just couldn’t seem to stop it happening. Not sure if the water temps dropped further or I was just tired. Anyway, I was again late for the start of the first race not that it mattered as I think I was out of energy after three days intense sailing. I managed about two gybes in the whole race with the rest ending in capsize.

Tacking was survival tacking instead of the smooth efforts of yesterday.

So with race one finished it was time to squeeze a little more energy out of myself in the increasing breeze. I got a good start and headed up the first beat in a reasonably good position and then dropped my gybes downwind to end up at the bottom gate in a still reasonable condition thanks to the carnage around the course. Second beat was just a case of hanging on. The second run was where my race ended as yet another venting detached the bottom leg of the gantry.

Luckily it only pulled the plug out of the tube and nothing was broken so I was able to stuff it back in and low ride home.

Race three was out as I had to let the plexus go off. So it’s ready for tomorrow although I’m not sure I am! I’m clearly at the end of my physical endurance at this stage and is a nice indicator for me to work from re. fitness. I’m surprised I lasted this long really!

I was angry with myself for sailing so badly but I guess I have to keep reminding myself that it’s going to take time and effort to get in to shape and the guys that are ahead of me have certainly put the hours in.

Star of the day has to be Ben Patton who pulled it out of the bag in the strong winds to deliver two top ten results! Well done Ben.

At the moment thanks to the strong winds, Nathan O and Bora and slogging it out for the title with Nathan ahead by just a few points.

So one more day and then it’s back on the road heading for home.