The Coventry Reef race again lived up to it’s reputation as a tough day race on 24 November 2012 as more than 40 boats fronted for the race around the rock.
With a strong wind warning issued and ominous skies hanging overhead the race started in a light South Easterly for the run out towards South Passage. A great start and upwind for us on the General saw us lead Div 1 at the day buoy with a handy margin. From here the breeze started it’s turn to the South West as lightning and rain developed – and as the breeze freshened the big boats started reeling us back in. Some 3 hours later the clouds dissipated, the breeze was up at the 30 mark and we were preparing to round Coventry Reef…and the sleigh ride back to Fremantle. And what a ride it was! Great result for us with a corrected IRC win of over 20 minutes. Third year in a row we have smoked this race. Good times…except our regular bowman Billy who missed the ride with broken finger and a tendon damage.
Not so good for some others, a Beneteau 40.7 dropped its rig, another boat had a drama with the seawall at the finish, a man overboard, a man in hospital and a swag of broken sails.
Video here – http://vimeo.com/54482615