1530 hrs Barmouth Lifeboat let the fleet out to the start line wind was SW 5 or there about's 24 boats all milling around trying to find the best place to cross the start line, there was so much wind and sea quite rough, that I don't think anybody really new when the start was due the start boat let off a rocket flare, were off, we thought this was the 5 minute gun but apparently not. All in all a good start was had by all and the 32st TPYR was under way, our first leg and Tidal gate was Bardsey sound, we sailed a close as P/L would sail, crossing St Patrick's Causeway in one of the many gaps that offer about a depth of 1.2 mtrs above CD so we had 4.5 mtrs as we passed through, we seemed to hold our own with those boats that were not able to point any close than 30' to the apparent wind, we tacked several times as we approached the sound, just getting through with two boats close ahead and two just behind, the tides here can ruin all ones hard work getting here, we managed to keep close in to the main land out of the south going tide and managed to pass one boat that had tacked out into the main run of the tide, (local Knowledge helps here, also 5 years doing the race, it helps to read the Pilot book as well, I should have done so in previous years.)