First a report of last race.The crew was Aud and Kathleen on the foredeck, Susan on main, Pam and Steve on winches and Skipper Ron steering.
It was VERY light wind. In fact, that Graham started a race at all was purely an act of optimism over realism. But enough breeze came up (gusting to 2.5 knots) to tempt him to do just that. So it was an easy call on the jib. the light #1. The course was a triangle 2x around, North East West, buoys to starboard. But the wind shifted to the east enough to make it a heavily favoured committee boat end. The back end of the boat decided it would be prudent to let the fleet fight it out on the line and we would just duck in at the committee boat after the traffic had cleared and then tack over on to port. It seems we neglected to pass that message to the front end of the boat where Kathleen was calling the line and in great exasperation urging us to get closer as the seconds counted down. But it all worked perfectly. Everyone except us and Abra were early so had to run the line and Abra was late and behind us. So in the end we did not get the jug, but I think we got the best start within inches of the committee boat a few seconds late with the fleet to leeward and Abra behind.
The committee boat was raising anchor immediately after our start skedaddle to the 3rd mark to finish.
But it now looked (at least to Ron - Steve I don't think was convinced) that there was more wind ahead than to windward so we did not tack but carried on starboard. The light #1 is a powerful sail but it likes to foot going up wind. So as we got close to the port tack lay line Veloche had worked her way up to us right on our port bow giving us back wind which forced us to drop below her transom but we hung on to the lay line and as soon as Veloche tacked for the mark we did too. So Veloche was now ahead. then we had to duck Abra who was still coming on starboard, so we lost a couple of valuable boat lengths to weather and we had some of the earlier starters to weather giving us dirt. So it was looking for a while that we were not going to lay the mark. But the wind was light enough and we had sufficient momentum to head reach almost straight into the wind to eek our way around with BS and Veloche a good distance ahead and Abra behind.
Abra tried to sail up over us but we fought her off and she dropped below and was not a factor after that. We dropped below Steve Hills in the Wind and started to head straight for the finish which was now set up at the third mark. We were sailing a very broad port tack reach in about a 2 knot apparent wind at a pretty consistent 1.5 knot boat speed. Veloche was working her way even higher ahead of us, apparently to ensure clear air but it meant an even broader reach to the finish line. There was virtually no crew movement on Circe with everyone, except Ron on the stick and Pam on the jib sheets, sitting at the leeward rail. Steve in the end was hand holding the light jib sheets from his position at the leeward shrouds. Kathleen asked how we going to catch Veloche and Skipper Ron confidently replied, "just watch, its all part of a master plan". But we always managed to keep the jib full and pulling and Susan maximized the shape of the main. Veloche's jib to weather was hanging limp and we very gradually reeled her in from clear ahead, to abeam, to well a stern. So we finished behind BS but had her well insight, and were well ahead of both Veloche and Abra.
But we still finished second , but this time only a minute and a half behind BS on corrected time.
So now the Roll Calls
I have already asked about some of these races but just want to confirm again.
Next Wednesday - Sept 4 - NO RACE - Sorry. We are away at a cottage that week. Circe has the week off.
QCYC Regatta - Saturday Sept 7 - an all day event, leaving the dock around 9:30 with a 10:50 Warning signal out in Humber Bay. Who's up for that?
Wednesday Night Sept 11 and 18 - these are our last two races. Who can make those?
Champion of Champions - Sunday Sept 22. This is a 3 race series in Toronto Bay. It starts around 11:00 and goes to about 4:30. Who's up for that?
Last Chance Cup/Presentation Dinner - Saturday Sept 28. A fun race (but aren't they all?) out to the Gibraltar mark and back, followed by the Presentation Dinner that evening. Who's up for the race and who's coming to the dinner?
Check your calendars and let me know.
Thanks,
Skipper Ron