CREW
Pam, Kathleen, Nansi - Foredeck
Susan - Main Sheet
Pat, Adam - Jib Sheets
Ron - Steering
Pat Coyle joined us again on the winches after his Wednesday night initiation. But this time with industrial strength knee pads to protect his battered knees from further abuse. As the forecast was for 12 knots we decided to bring Adam back to give Patrick some additional muscle on the winches. In the wind strength three on the foredeck's not a bad idea either. It was a good call.
COURSE
The course for the regatta was out in Humber Bay with a 10:50 warning gun. The regatta would consist of a maximum of 4 races with a 2x around windward leeward course with gate jibe marks. The race committee got in only 3 races due to the fickle wind conditions.
(Sorry Pat, for chopping off the top of your head! Couldn't see a thing on my iPhone!)
COMPETITION
We were sailing PHRF white sail so most of our completion were familiar QCYC boats. Ascend was out, as was Veloce, and Alpha Omega. Two QCYC C&C 35's came out, Initram and Will Harney's new boat Disco Velonte. There were a total of 7 or 8 in our division but I cannot remember who else. We started first combined with PHRF spinnaker fleet. So there was about a dozen boats on the line each start.
This was supposed to be the smiling All Crew Picture, until Skipper Ron shouted "get the jib up" and everyone jumped.
WIND and SAIL SELECTION
The wind started as forecast about 10 to 12 knots out of the west. But that was all that stayed consistent with the forecast. We sailed the first race quite comfortably with the heavy #1. Near the end of the first race it died stranding the back part of the fleet at the weather mark so we had to wait an hour for them to finally cross the finish line to start the 2nd race. While we were waiting we dropped the heavy #1 and stuffed it below and set up the light #1 on deck but did not hoist it as we waited for the fleet to finish. But low and behold the wind filled in again but from the south west at 12 knots again. Off came the light #1 and back went the heavy #1 and the race committee had to reset the weather mark.. Then just as we were nearing the finish of the second race dead down wind the wind swung almost 180 degrees and we ended up bucking to the finish. That wind held in that direction now coming out of the north and built to 15 knots. We stayed with the heavy #1.
RACES
Race 1
We had a great start in the first race about a third of the way down the line with clear air. And that's about all I can remember of it except that the wind was dying on the last run and Ascend and Alpha finished in front of us and Veloce behind. Alpha won it, we were second and Veloce third.
Race 2
We had a terrible start, buried below the line to leeward behind a wall of dirty air. We had to pinch to clear the pin end of the line and at the first opportunity tacked away on to port tack to clear our air. Then things started to get better in leaps and bounds. The rest of the fleet hung onto starboard a little longer then followed us over on port. But we were pointing higher and going faster in our own channel of magic Circe wind. We tacked back onto starboard at the layline and Alpha who we had now caught tacked to leeward of us but failed to lay the mark and tried to head reach around it forcing us up head to wind as well. But there was an unfavourable current at the mark and Eric couldn't make it around and drifted into the mark. And so did we. We both did 360's but we seemed to take off down the first run and rounded ahead of everyone and stayed there for the rest of the race. Despite the 180 degree wind shift we were the first boat in the fleet to cross the line. We won that race with Veloce second and Alpha third.
Race 3
We would have had a great start in this race except we were over early, but it couldn't have been by more than a foot or two. Ascend and Skeena were early too. But by the time we got back and restarted it was a catch up game after that. But the wind was a piping 15 knots with the big jib and we were flying. But though we managed to close the gap the race was not long enough to allow us to pass Alpha and Veloce. We finished 3rd with Alpha winning and Veloche second.
Over All
We finished second with a 2, 1, 3 to Alpha's 1, 3,1. Veloce finished third.
But it was a perfect day for sailboat racing and the entire crew worked hard and well. Skipper Ron was getting a little annoying as the day went on with his motivational speaking. But the Circe crew displayed amazing tolerance and patience and reframed from mutiny and hanging the skipper. Kathleen took over the helm and we sailed back to the club around the outside of the island in a beautiful north wind and tacked through the eastern gap leaving Veloce in our wake.
We cashed in the Wednesday jug and drank it all up over dinner in the great hall.
It was a great day.
Skipper Ron