QII in Kinsale

QII crossed the Kinsale finish line at 2259 BST on
Monday. Her position in the fleet is not yet known as the RWYC's race website is
down. There were several boats ahead but none which Mary and Jerry were ashamed
to be behind and QII was ahead of a lot, including some which were expected to
be ahead. After a fast sail from the start to the Eddystone lighthouse the fleet
came hard on the wind and it was a beat to the Bishops Rock off the Scillies
where the wind freed and most of the fleet hoisted spinnakers. For QII that was
just after 4am. At first the wind was Force 4 but it increased steadily to force
5 and then 6 which made for pretty exciting sailing. Steering needed a lot of
concentration and so Mary and Jerry took it in turns to steer for just an hour
at a time. As QII approached the Irish coast the wind dropped and she crossed
the finish line only 3 minutes or so behind a fast J122. It poured with rain
most of Monday and so as QII sits in the Kinsale marina her deck is covered with
sails which are drying in today's gorgeous sunshine.