Trygve Roberts submitted this story early this season of his experiences racing his J/27 Smack Water Jack in the ROBBEN ISLAND PURSUIT RACE…“Deliciously terrifying - That’s about the best way to describe this race. Not only did we have the satisfaction of being one of the smallest boats to complete the race, but we also finished on the podium (3rd overall) having been beaten by the Mumm 36 ‘Ballyhoo Too’ and the ILC 40 ‘Gumption’ respectively. These were relatively minor achievements as the real glamour of the day went to a breathtakingly fast, downwind sleigh ride in 35 knots of winter gale with huge waves. Add to that a brand new speed record for Smackwater Jack of 17,6 knots – smashing our previous record of 16,6 in the process. I wouldn’t have missed this one for all the tea in China."
Read the “abridged” story here (.pdf).
