RC=Scott/Dana
Another beautiful Friday evening on the water. Nice breeze, only slightly dysfunctional. We had a little snafu with RC duties. Chris was unexpectedly raiding minibars between Chicago and Tokyo, no particular reason, and Mr. Cody was determined to visit the 347 wineries remaining on his to do list before June. Apologies to Gail and her crew for running them off the dock with the trailer before their board was down.
Race 1: Marcel helped set the course and after a late start we got lucky with a decent course and 8 boats lined up for course 1 with good air and a heavy flood. Everyone went inside, Joel decided to go until he was sure he hit bottom then sprinted to the windward mark behind Dean. Pretty clean roundings for the entire fleet until Josh overheated and went for a swim with Benny at the leeward mark. They easily righted and finished. Marcel and Joel were fighting to the finish with Joel crossing the line first by an inch. (RC had only one sighted person that wasn’t allowed to assist in calling the finish and told to “do your job and write down what I say!”, I didn’t even get to blow the whistle or drive the boat!)
Race 2: Quick start for race 2, Windward mark, leeward finish, the breeze was light, flood was giant and we wanted to get as many races in as possible. Clean start, with most boats 1 second off the line. Most dove inside again, while Nick had an idea of going outside. Joel was first to round the windward mark, and out of nowhere Nick came in on port ahead of Dean and Marcel. Dean and Marcel decided to flirt with the mark and stay in the wind hole we dropped on them. Gus and Gail also decided to find the same hole and the only way out was backward with the flood and then into the middle. It finished Joel, Nick out in front.
Race 3: We started to get some teaser puffs and considered a longer course but went with the up and back hoping to get in a fourth. This time I was allowed to hold the timing watch, but wasn’t allowed to push any of the button, good times. With the current it was a good idea to stay above the line prior to the start. But Gus and gail decided that a time and distance method was in order. Clean start again, and most boats went inside and still found the wind hole at the end of the break wall. As the top 4 boats fetched the top mark, Gail decided they had enough of a lead to make it interesting and crossed the start line, she stayed in the middle and was given the fattest lift of the night which she and her crew, who’s never sailed before, rode it right up the middle. It looked as though she was going to pass Nick and Marcel as they came to the windward mark, then they were sucked into the same hole. They went backwards, exited, then rounded the mark, and smooth downwind leg. If Gail changes out the cheese cloth with a modern sail, she would’ve caught and passed those boats.
We called it a three races, it was difficult to tell if the boats were going to make it back with some light left. The red start flag broke at the base, I’ve worked up a new design for this coming friday’s race, it should be more sturdy. Jeff will demo and make any changes. I have posted video of the entire nights race here if you’re so inclined: 2014-05-23. The GoPro mount is Dana proof. |
