Due to freaky weather conditions on the bay, we only got a single race done this weekend. As per the sailing instructions however, one race consitutes a regatta. So I guess it counts. This was only my second time racing a J/109, and my first race of 2008. Rusty is not the word. More like corroded.
Prior to the start, we identified the left shift and the heavily favored pin end of the line, and aimed to start at or near the pin. A Melges 32 tacked just to leeward of us with about 20 seconds to go, but the pin was so favored that the Melges had trouble making the pin. We quickly rolled the Melges as the gun went off and pinched out the the only other J/109 in our 4 boat PHRF fleet. The rest of the fleet went over to port. We tacked to cover the fleet after about 2 minutes, and were almost laying the windward mark.
We rounded well in first, and it was a good thing too. Because our spin set was beyond pathetic. We spent the next 3 minutes fighting an hourglass, and then overstood the leeward mark. The Melges got by us on the downwind, but they had no chance of making thier time on us because the next two legs were seriously lopsided.
It was a whole lot of weekend to give up for a single race. But the rum drinks taste better when you get off the boat. So there is that.
Dave, enjoyed racing with you guys this weekend (and Dana too on Sat). Bizarro weather to be sure. What a sight to see Dana motoring out Cowbell Sunday morning with kiddies aboard. Just another walk in the park…how cool is that?
Comment by chrisk — April 29, 2008 @ 1:04 pm
In case anyone was still wondering whether my bride was a bad-ass, she goes and basically single hands a 40 foot cruising boat on the bay.
I could not resist checking the boat for scratches, later, at the slip.
Comment by DavidB — April 29, 2008 @ 4:14 pm