Following a delayed start owing to light airs, Northern Child spent the duration of the race playing catch-up after a disappointing start. As the 5 minute sequence started for the IRC2 fleet, the wind dropped and left NC fighting the tide to make the start line. The first leg provided some challenging conditions, while the crew of NC carefully watched for any sign of the breeze filling in – making the right calls was a bit of a lottery. As NC passed Gurnard a stiff breeze built from the west, allowing NC to make up some ground on her rivals. A quick reach northwards across the width of the Solent to Champagne Mumm was followed by another upwind leg westward. At the second windward mark, NC set her kite as she ran back towards Cowes. NC made some big gains downwind, carving her way back up the fleet, ploughing through the other fleets on Starboard, catching many of the more amateur competitors off guard. Northern Child finished 18th in an IRC2 fleet of 28 boats; a reasonable finish considering the difficulties experienced off the start line.
