With Natalie’s attention focused on the final pieces of work for her physiotherapy MSc, Tom called on Ralph Mason and Ben Rogers, who first sailed with us on our Sigma 33 Mithril, to co-skipper for the first couple of weekends in May, racing from Cowes to Lymington by way of Bembridge Ledge and from the mid Solent to Poole Bar buoy and back to the western Solent. (As it turned out, both races were over slightly shorter courses because of forecast light winds, with Bembridge Ledge buoy replaced by Warner and the Poole Bar buoy replaced by Ledge, a mark in the middle of Christchurch Bay).
Without the regular primary helm, Tom had first to remind himself how to start. After years running round the boat and pulling the strings for Natalie, he was concerned that he might have lost his touch but needn’t have worried. But what matters is what happens later in the race.
After leading the JOG fleet on handicap approaching the Forts, Mostly Harmless slipped back and finished mid fleet in Class 2 and second in double handed. Mostly Harmless led the Royal Southampton fleet approaching Yarmouth before missing a windshift and being overtaken by Hot Pursuit, who built up a significant lead on the beat out to Ledge Buoy. Mostly Harmless made a better job of sailing the downwind angles on the run back too the finish at Zwerver to take line honours, but did not have a big enough margin to beat Hot Pursuit on handicap.