Pantaenius Bohusracet 2020 thema was light or no wind at all.
We know we are underpowered upwind without the overlapping genoa for which the boat is designed, but we counted on broad reach and downwind to exploit the new light spi, which, after our Offshore training has proven itself.
We had a perfect start crossing the line on the gun with relatively free wind, however, the boat takes time to speed up and we struggled to move where the air was.
After turning the bridge in Uddevalla, we found some breeze which we were able to exploit quite well and stay always in the wind. Nevertheless, it was a long and focused 10h upwind with over 50 tacks which is not optimal for keeping the boat at speed.
Just before Dyrön we got stuck with no wind in the center of the fjord and started drifting backwards and slightly at an angle toward the island at 0,8kn. Here we were pretty much surrounded by many other participants. Many tried to stay closed to land, whilst we anchored before getting near it as we expected some very light breeze from the mainland in the center of the fjord.
As expected, after some hours, Millan, a First 31.7 in the group behind us approached gliding with hers light spi. Unfortunately for them, they continued to close to Dyrön and got stuck, whilst we used them as a signal that it was time to lift anchor and flying our spi. We started gliding by most of the group through a magic warm night, barely dark, surrounded by navigation lights, in complete silence and with hopes picking up. In fact according to our routings, we could make it to the finish line in time only if we rounded Hätteberget lighthose at 10am of the following day. As it turned out, we passed Åstol, we were able to bear our heavy reacher sailing on a closed reach in light air at 5kn. We rounded Hätteberget at around 2.30am. Furthermore, we noticed through Facebook that the course had been shortened, making almost certain its feasibility.
With 2kn current offshore and the light spi up, we were able to keep on sailing at a decent speed. For a while. Then as expected, the little existing air died out entirely and we were left gliding north with the current. If anything, it was the right direction this time! Around 6am some thermals start forming and we fight to keep the boat along their edges and keep moving, until some more consistent wind picks up a little later. When it comes however, it has turned too much to the east and we could not bear our spinnaker any longer, ending up in our weakest zone. By now, behind us Rebellion and J88.se start approaching us with their codes and light weight and are able to quickly shorten the distance and overtake us just before Hållö.
At this point the wind has picked up to around 6kn and we are able to sail well and at speed on close reach and maintain our advantage on the large group that we sailed by much earlier in the evening. What we don’t know though, is that many of them have thrown the towel and given up during their time in the Doldrums.
It is a fantastic sail in light air, sun, flat water, across the wonderful archipelago around Fjällbacka. Things are going pretty well, morale is up, there has been no resting up to this point and amazing focus.
On the last stretch to Smögen and finish line, the wind stops entirely again and we get stuck for about 3 frustrating hours. Many of the boats behind us managed to gain on us, probably being able to exploit small, weak thermals, or simply because after 34 hours, about 1hour from the finish line, the frustrating had the better of us and we lost some focus.
A few hundred meters from us, Lady Godiva was slightly ahead. They dropped their spinnaker and hoisted the genoa, which meant that the massive veer that we expected was coming and we followed immediately. Here we ended up again in our weak zone and struggled to keep moving holding our breath.
Over the firm land large dark clouds were building up and thunder were audible. Within minutes the wind picked up from 2/3kn to 20kn with gusts around 24kn. We put a reef in the main and sailed gloriously through the finish line, fast, happy and chilled by the rain that had come with the squall.
All in all we are satisfied with the end result, given the conditions with our 8th place in our class, 35 hours sailed in terrible frustration for about half of them.
Fantastic event and arranged wonderfully. We loved the long armed white t-shirts given out in the welcome package to all participants as they were great against the scorching sun.
On the negative side, we were aware that we would not make it to the end before the start, but refused to give up without trying. Exactly like many others. It may have been a better decision to shorten the course before starting as it would have ensured many more participants through the finish line. About 50% of the filed left the race before completing.
Here the complete results