Our New Vanderbilt Start

CREW - Nansi, Mike, Pam - Foredeck

          - Chris, Steve - winches

          - Susan - main

          - Skipper Ron - tiller and motivation            

WIND - Very variable prior to the race from the north west from 10 to 22 knots.

SAIL SELECTION - no main reef, went out with the #2 set up on deck but wind seemed to be dropping so changed to the big #1 before the race - a good call.

COURSE - NWE buoys to port triangle with start near eastern gap and weather mark toward Red Path plant. 4X around.

RACE - The wind shifted to the north just before the start making the committee boat end of the line strongly favoured. Our new Vanderbilt start technique worked well and we started in the ideal position at the favoured end beside the committee boat with BS, Abra, and Veloche all to leeward. We stayed in the lead up the first buck forcing Abra and BS to duck us going into the mark on port. We rounded the weather mark first in our division. But the two bigger boats got past us in the lightening wind and Veloche actually established an overlap. But we stayed ahead at the jibe mark but got caught on the outside of Elan allowing both Dove and Veloche to gain from behind. But we sailed a good third leg to get an inside overlap on Dove at the mark and stretch out a lead over Veloche. We maintained that for the next 3 times around in continuing variable wind velocities from 3 to 10 knots.

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Harold S. Vanderbilt on the cover of Time, 1930 - standing at the helm of his J-boat Enterprise, after winning the America's Cup

RESULTS - We finished 3rd behind Blue Streak and Abra but about a minute ahead of Veloche. On corrected time we finished 2nd behind BS (no surprise) but Veloche finished 3rd ahead of Abra.

It was a great race. Good to have Chris back for the race and Mike enjoyed the different perspective from the foredeck. But we missed Kathleen who was at a cottage for a week.

Roll Call for next race - Whose on board for the 30th?

Skipper Ron