MYKONOS 2011 - CHEN's adventure

Friday, race Cape Town to MYKONOS
Friday 25th Feb 2011 , 04h00. Up early heading for RCYC. CHENs crew gathered at 06h45, down to boat and prepared for departure. Left moorings with good time to get to startline, weather great for downwind race to MYKONOS, strong S'Easter around 25 knots. Decided to go conservative so no spinnaker till we got near Bokpunt.

CHEN chasing Carousel...at start Mykonos 2011

Speed with poled out No1 was good and we were in control not like some around us, broaches galore, all helping to justify Johan in his quest to condemn spinnakers to Davy Jones locker !!!!
We took inshore route and we stayed in the wind , some found windless spots offshore. But we were late on picking the westerly so had a hard reach in to Dassen to find the 'gate'. Gate found;  transit at 14h11(boat @ gate gave time as 14h15.. hmmm...) and onward to Saldanaha Bay.
Sea very lumpy, big SW swells so no spinnaker, entering channel between South Head and Jutten Island about 17h30.
Crossed finish line at , 18h05 , great days racing behind now for a bit of partying.....

Saturday, Bay race.
After an earliesh night, good sleep, Team CHEN was ready to go racing ...

After agreed crew changes we were on our way to the start, weather again perfect, light S'Easterly , 12/15 knots. Start time , 11h11, bit late on line but going fast. Making good course decision and making up places.
Rounded weather mark and set spinnaker, brilliant reach into run , making time on boats ahead.

Read sailing instruction very well, sailed correct course unlike a fellow competitor.....
CHEN sailing very well, making up paces again on beat to weather mark, rounded and only poled out Genny again, watched Cabaray struggle with their 'Bag' but they got sorted and then took a long time to pass us, bummer 1 position back. but in the end we were 6th , a good position sailing conservatively.

Well done TEAM CHEN , great sailing , great racing , great partying , Great TEAM , THANKS...

Next adventure ......... home coming......!!!