2015 - 2016 Inter-Galactic Series Race 6 Report

As opposed to all other Intergalatic races this season, we had a light wind day to conclude the series. The brief skirmish before the line resulted in Merde getting away first and well upwind of the others. With the wind being much too light to foil, TheVirtual’s L3 speedier hull quickly broke Merde’s sloppy cover and they successfully hunted favourable breeze on the opposite side of the course. This gave TheVirtual a seemingly unassailable 200 – 250 m lead at the top mark. However, while TheVirtual then attempted to max foiling speed by pointing high under kite, Merde opted for low and steady, seeing them ease in front about half way down. TheVirtual then wisely separated gybes again, switching tactics to match Merde’s low-down style, which rewarded them with a 10 boat-length reinstated lead at the first bottom mark rounding.

Merde’s crew then took the opportunity to sunbath on the fore deck for the entire upwind beat – which managed to minimise the woof hull’s upwind disadvantage, so they were trailing by a similar deficit at the top mark. With nothing to lose, Merde changed strategies for the final kite scuffle of the season, and they headed wide on a high pointing starboard flier, switching the foil lifting mechanism on in the puffs. From out wide in the course, Merde gybed and picked up the only real gust of the day – of a whole 8 to 10 knots – about 10 seconds earlier than the leading boat, which saw them smoke into the 4th lead-change of the day. A snappy kite douse at the crowded multi-fleet bottom mark, let Merde’s normally merde crew carry their close lead to the finish – conferring Intergalactic glory on the very worthy Peter W. Holder.