On reflection our decision to leave the heavy weather kite (flanker or "chicken chute" as it is affectionately known) and the number 4 on the pontoon at Warsash may not have been our wisest as we saw winds increase from a solid 20 knots plus on the startline to consistent 35 knots with 40 knot gusts by the finish!

A superb piece of space-making at the favoured committee boat end by Jim saw us leave the line at pace with the fleet under control. Immediately a tactical decision to either tack straight to port and make their way up the Bramble and then cross the channel to the windward mark or stand on starboard and make the shallow water progress up Ryde Middle was needed. We chose the latter and a nervous ten minutes followed as huge separation appeared in the fleet between the rest (who chose the Bramble option) and the three of us that chose Ryde Middle, the others being the Swan (Marinero) and our old foes Sanguma (Ker one off). As we started to come together it became obvious that we had chosen correctly and the three of us popped out nicely ahead of the fleet.

An "interesting" trip downwind in 30 knots with the asymmetric saw us increase our lead over the remainder of the fleet and break away with Marinero, unsurprisingly revelling in the strong conditions.

Little changed for the rest of the race but a top speed of 14.2 knots with the assymetric was a highlight, as was the last beat to the finish (subsequently found to be unnecessary as the race had been shortened to RYA) with no mainsail as we had been so pressed that we finished with just a no.3 and were still seeing 7.5 knots upwind!

Regardless of where the finish was taken we had won the race and with it came Quokkas 4th place came the lead overall. Now we just need to hang onto it!!!