It was a horrible race,’ the former national and world champion said.
‘In our briefing we were told that the conditions would be slight to moderate, but in truth it was moderate to seriously rough.
‘We didn’t expect the conditions to be so bad.
Undercurrents and hidden sandbacks caused the seas to roll and, towards the end, we had shipped so much water all of the hydraulics had ceased to operate.
Even so, I probably could have held on to second place, but safety becomes an important factor in a race like that and we were pipped on the line.
‘Of the 12 boats that entered, eight had to withdraw, most of them having been swamped by water.
‘After this result I’m probably middle of the field by now, but there are another eight races to go, and each of the races so far has been won by a different boat, which is in my favour.
