Second twilight of the season ended in a whimper for our class. RC chose an over-ambitious up-coast, contra-current course for 3-4 knots of wind. Guys who went in to avoid the current got snagged in the kelp. Guys that went out to find wind found the current. We cheered the Beneteau next to us when they turned on ol' Sparky. We followed suit, downed our spinnaker, and towed in a hapless J-24. Took some pictures, but they didn't turn out. At least I hope they didn't turn out! Incriminating possibly.
It turns out that one of the two very good reasons yesterday's H-Fleet race could not be shortened at the time you called the Race Committee was the fact that one boat had apparently already rounded D-Mark and was on her way to the 2nd mark. The SC-27 had worked her way to outside and rounded. She found a little wind line out there and was moving, however slowly. When the race was eventually cancelled after sundown, she was halfway to the finish line from the leeward mark. Imagine how they felt.......
ReplyDeleteGerry, We know all about fighting our way around the race course and being seconds YES, mere SECONDS! from finishing, only to hear the "Race Finished" horn ring out from the club's deck.
DeleteBTW, it blew a steady 20-25 knots today!
ReplyDeleteYou didn't mention your lousy start.
ReplyDeleteYeah, no lo contendre. My momentum tactic (revving up & cutting off the engine before the warning signal) reserved for choppy seas, no wind and heavy current was of no avail. The wind dropped from 6 knots to two knots. We were five minutes plus in starting. Nevertheless, my biggest fear in those conditions, being over early, was averted. With our displacement, we might as well go back to the slip. As it was, we started drifting into the 20 footers, some of whom were pulled over early by the current. We had to fend off. The RC had stupidly sent them on a course in the opposite direction of our course. I was happy to pass you the wheel and limit myself to one comment every five minutes. The only thing I can say in my defense is you yourself exonerated me by being able to pass the Beneteau before the race was abandoned. No harm, no foul.
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