Cervantes Race, an adventure with assymetrics
Purple Mist
Skipper: Kate Cope
Sun 5 May 2019 13:01
Has some fabulous surfing after the forts at over 12kts, we overhauled 2x J109’s and numerous class 4 boats. Upwind to Littlehampton felt a bit slow, probably could have reefed the J2 earlier. Littlehampton to France was a sleigh ride once we got the A5 up. We had an aborted hoist when the bottoms of it dived over the side and tore a small hole but lightening repair and we were off again. More 12kts plus and everything looked good we were starting to catch back boats ......then disaster struck.it started as simple as the lazy Spi sheet went under the boat and caught on the rudder. This distraction then caused us to broach and which point the Spi sheet let go of the sail clew. The spinnaker then went bonkers wrapping itself round the forestay. We tried 2 or 3 hours to unravel without success . This is whilst still trailing the entire Spi sheet behind us. With night falling it was clear we were never going to unravel it in the dark so with heavy hearts we retired. Currently limping back to Hamble with the spinnaker so wrapped on the forestay it’s actually no trouble and the Spi sheet still jammed under the rudder. ...at least it wasn’t round the propeller which I did fear
