Spring Race

Light air day. 2-5 knots for the entire race. Used a bold but risky barging start because the boat with the right-of-way had no leeway.

She hailed, "No room!" (There was room)

I said, "If you luff up, we will respond!" By which I meant, you can push us up over the line if you want to.

"Barging!" was the response.

"You are the barge!" was a comment whispered by one of my crew, thankfully barely audible on board.

I responded, "But you're not moving!" What did she expect of me to do? Sail to leeward of a stationary, 40-foot wind shadow?

We are always more short-handed in a light air day. I had to do a little spinnaker hoisting at the mast and provide a little leeward rail ballast while Trophy Wife helmed. She did well: 11th out of 19 in the 3-mile race. That's why she is our light wind specialist.

In the process, I started working on a new spin about my age: tolerating it and not feeling so guilty about not being able to do everything on my boat, like I used to be able -- nice as that would be if I were be able to find an alternative & affordable boat.

Instead, I began recalling that 20 years ago, or more, I was extremely aggressive and springing-to when crewing on other people's boats. So, currently I am only asking of others what I have before so freely given myself. I did my time and would do it again if able. I have done my time before the mast.