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5.4 Duke (mast 430+10 & boom 145+28)
Launched at Adam's place on Zeekoevlei, because there seemed to be a social sailing day at UCT YC.
Immediately felt underpowered and while struggling to pop the board on the plane ended up almost where one aims to when launching further downwind from UCT YC. Managed better on subsequent runs, but always felt in danger of dropping off the plane.
Further obstacles included a fleet of Optimists doing what seemed like a photo-shoot - milling around a speedboat with a photographer. In Ulrich's words - they were like ducklings following a big goose. While I had to work hard not to lose ground downwind on every run - aiming below the slowly moving group of Optimists would incur serious loss of ground. However, a lull on a run aimed upwind of them risks sending one right through the middle of the fleet.
Later a couple of 420s followed by a rescue boat tacked upwind - across the line where we were going backwards and forwards - they seemed to be practicing trapeze work.
The highlight of the day was Ulrich almost jumping (or crashing into?) a buoy.
The wind dropped off at the end and I was robbed of that last nice planing run necessary for closure. Instead I had a very long and muddy walk of shame :-(
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