Sailing
double handed it is more difficult to constantly switch between the Code Zero
and a spinnaker so the challenge is to maximise the sail you have up and, where
possible, limit the number of changes. Although separated from Rockit, we
were predominantly sailing in the same wind. We were both using a
masthead code zero so it was a great opportunity to experiment with different
combinations of stay sail. As
we approached Dartmouth the North / South separation reduced and Rockit
established herself around 0.8nm ahead. With around 6 miles to run we
decided that our only option was to switch to the A4 and try something
different from Rockit. Shortly after the wind picked up from 18kts to mid
20’s and veered slightly allowing us to power up the A4 with a TWA of around
120 degrees. Our average speed jumped from 12Kts to 16Kts with the
occasional surf into 18Kts. As we charged towards Dartmouth the AIS
showed the gap was reducing slowly. Allowing for the difference in rating
we had to close to around 3 minutes behind Rockit to secure the place which, in
reality, meant cutting the distance down to around 0.3nm. 
The
Morgan Cup is a 115nm race which takes the fleet out of the Solent to the East,
around the Isle of Wight and then West to finish at the entrance to Dartmouth.
With a start at 1800hrs we expected the breeze to slowly die overnight
before building again around dawn from the North to provide a fast reach to
Dartmouth. The forecast was spot on, and after a good start the fleet
compressed as holes appeared in the wind. By the early hours the whole
fleet was drifting in Sandown Bay, using what breeze was available to stem the
tide. A gentle zephyr allowed us and a small group of boats to break free
from the main pack and make progress towards St Catherine’s Point. As the
forecasted breeze filled in we managed to extend away from the main pack crossing
tacks a couple of times with Shirley and Dee on Rockit, another Sunfast 3300.
Separating from the Island we positioned ourselves to the North of Rockit
with around a mile separation and started an 8 hour drag race to Dartmouth.