Expecting a slightly less brutal coastal race, we were to be disappointed… The Southern Ocean still had a few tricks up its sleeve, and we were treated to eight days of upwind sailing – with all the discomfort that entails – followed by two days of storm-to-hurricane force winds. Along the beautifully rugged southern coast of Tasmania, we were hit with winds of 60-70 knots (76.1 at their height): with a large Yankee and only one reef in our mainsail (and no chance of changing either in those conditions) we had no option but to run before the wind.  And run we did, at around 20 knots, fast enough to overtake and smash through the waves, and more than fast enough for some of us to cast a concerned eye at the rig.

   
 But Garmin is a tough girl, and although the sails and running rigging were battered and bruised, she got us safely through.  After the storm came the (relative) calm of 20 knots of wind: two days of cat and mouse with our arch-rivals, GB, with constant trimming and attention to sail plan. Despite every trick we could think of, they kept a mile ahead of us, and eventually pulled clear by a few miles leaving us a definite third. Next time, Gadget…

Tucked up in Rushcutters bay at the CYCA (Cruising Yacht Club of Australia) by 4am, we had a beer, a coffee, and then – after a short break – reconvened to hit the deep clean and maintenance for a couple of days.

Now for some r&r…