CREW
Foredeck- Pam, Kathleen, Chris L
Main sheet & start timing - Susan
Jib Sheets - Steve & Jay
Quality Control & Motivation - Ron
Nansi was deck building again.
WIND and JIB SELECTION
The forecast was for 12 to 15 knots out of the south west swinging to the west then weakening. Skipper Ron pulled the heavy #1 on deck and rigged the heavy sheets at the mooring in anticipation. But when we got out there the wind piped up to 20 knots so we dropped the #1 and went with the #2.
THE RACE
The course was set up as a buoys to port windward / leeward 4 times around. All our usual competition was out except Blue Streak and Kokomo. All others looked like they were carting full #1’s.
We got a fairly good start to windward with Veloce about a third of the way down the line. Alpha was to windward near the committee boat. Amelia was further down the line. Abra was behaving oddly and started late.
Veloce was pinching us up again like last week so we tacked away and ducked Alpha. Everyone else went into the Island and we carried on to the starboard lay line. When we arrived at the windward mark on starboard Alpha arrived in port ahead followed closely by Veloce with us right behind.
On the first downwind leg we stayed on starboard tack with the jib poked out to starboard. Alpha sailed well below the mark and Veloce was tight ahead wind and wind on port tack. Near the leeward mark Alpha came in on a starboard tack reach but Veloce rounded inside her and ahead and we managed to round inside Alpha.
On the second beat Veloce tacked into the island again while we and Alpha stayed on port toward the city. That was the last we saw of Veloce. We tacked away to starboard next and Alpha carried on further.
Much to our surprise, and delight, the wind continued to clock so we were unexpectedly able to lay the weather mark. Alpha over stood it and had to reach down to it. The wind strength was holding at around 15 knots. We rounded ahead of Alpha now first boat in our Division.
It was mostly follow the leader on the second downwind leg as we managed to stay ahead of Alpha. The wind was still strong but softening down from the earlier 20+ knots. We discovered on the 3rd upwind leg that easing the jib in this lighter 12 to 15 knot wind gave us more upwind power without sacrificing pointing ability. We held our position. On the 3rd downwind leg the wind had shifted enough that it was a broad port tack reach instead of a run. Abra was finally making an appearance and was finally closing on us. We kept high, well above the mark, and eventually forced Abra to go below us where they got stuck in our wind shadow as we headed down to the mark. We went briefly wing and wing without pole sailing down to the mark and hardened on to a port tack around the mark inside of Abra and still ahead of Alpha. Veloce and Amelia’s location was not known.
After rounding, Abra unexpectedly dropped her jib. We tried to check the flags on the committee boat looking for a shortened course but since we were at that point directly upwind of the flags could not read them. We decided to carry on.
The wind continued to lessen but still stayed around 12 knots so we were able to hold our own on Alpha with our #2. Alpha tacked away onto starboard at the mark and headed to the island. We hung on to port to the city and hung on for a while and then tacked over to cover Alpha. If we had hung on for only 3 more boat lengths we would have laid the weather mark. Alpha crossed behind us near the mark and we had to throw in a couple of quick tacks to get around the mark but still managed to round the weather mark several boat lengths ahead of Alpha.
We stayed ahead of her in the failing breeze, our #2 seeming to more successfully fill on the broad reach than her full #1.
RESULTS
Well, it turned out to have been a shortened course at 3 times around so our 4th lap, which Alpha, Veloce and Amelia also did, was just for fun.
Circe won (hurray Circe), Alpha was second, Veloce third, Amelia fourth, and Abracadabra fifth. Alpha got the beer.
So, with only one race left in the 2nd Series. Including one drop race, Blue Streak still leads counting this DNC as her drop with 7 points. Circe is one point back with 8, Alpha Omega is 3rd with 12, Veloce 4th with 14, Abracadabra 5th with 15. So it all depends if we have a race next week. If it is called for any reason the results as they are now will stand. If we do have a race, Blue Streak will have to carry another DNC (they will miss 2 races) which puts her out of the running and all we have to do is start to ensure us winning this series. It’s looking good thanks to Rob Eckersley deciding on a two week holiday in August.
Again, well done Circe Crew. Another good race.
Skipper Ron