Wet Wednesday Squall

Here's what happened to 2nd Wind. She may be out of commission for a month or more. But, Thank God, everyone is okay. This stalwart crew was bloodied but unbowed.

For the first time in her long and distinguished career, Psyché's Song, did not leave her slip. I have to confess that her skipper & crew elected to drink the afternoon away in boat and bar rather than set to sea and risk uncertain carnage in winds gusting in the 40's. I think it was good to set a precedent whereby there are known conditions in which we will not venture out in extreme conditions in pursuit of honors at the risk of life and limb. Still, it was difficult to watch. One of our closest competitors, Liz's Diamond, took line honors!

I love our super-light, super-roach, fully battened mainsail. But we have learned we can't reef without tearing it. So, I am wondering if Psyché's Song should also be equipped with a storm main:

• ¾ hoist (because mast stability is not an issue)
• No battens (for storage purposes)
• Sail cloth as strong (almost) as sheet metal
  
• Loose-footed (to deploy over regular main which is strapped down to the boom).

Other ideas?

A New Look

This revision of Psyché's Song's site is a work-in-progress. (Reactions and suggestions are welcome, but holding your breath won't work because blogging politics still weighs heavily on my time.)

You should also know that this new version protects our privacy: you have to login to your email, even to view it.

Opening Day - 2007

Not a memorable race that day,
given the light wind.

Charity Regatta 2006

July CHRF

CHRF Summer Series

It's my feeling that when conditions are like today's - steady at 9-11 knots - CHRF's dynamic handicap compresses Psychè's Song into the middle of the fleet.

In 6 or so knots - variable, the determination, persistence and inventiveness of the crew determines our fate; 16 knots and higher, and the boat takes over.

Wet Wednesday's Summer Series

Where's the Beef?


Here it is:

This is the crew which literally muscles Psychè’s Song around the same boring old trapezoidal course in light, light airs. I can't remember ever before competing so consistently in single-digit wind-strength. But we are!

It would be nice to win some more. (It's that same ol' handicap, right?)

Nevertheless, there's lot to be said for just showing up and contending week after week. Our conditions will eventually return...

And, when they do, we will strike!

Wet Wednesday Fun Race

This race is sandwiched in between Wet Wednesday's Spring and Summer Series.

The Fun Race (counting for nothing but glasses) needed a novelty to motivate us. It was decided that MVP would take the start and 1st half of the race at the helm; and that another crew talent take it the second half. Only problem is MVP couldn't be budged off of it. (Doctor Love and I struggle with is the problem! We call it the Helm Hog Syndrome.) Needless to say, MVP turned in an excellent performance, and we finished 5th out of 12 finishers. That's a glass!

Whenever we are relaxed enough on starboard and crossing a port tack boat, some one on board should certainly reach for the camera and snap off a couple of shots. That picture in my mind's eye, looking down the heeling stem of Second Wind with her crew staring intensely ahead would have been a calendar-quality shot!

Coulda, woulda, shoulda.

Still, another great time on the water.

Memorial Day Race

A fifth place out of 14 boats in a 4-knot (or Less) breeze?

I can't believe we accomplished this!

For Psychè’s Song, that's unheard of! It can only mean that all those on board worked hard together and worked the boat more than nine other crews! Those conditions were so bad, that the last two boats to finish, finished backwards, depending on their drift with the tide!

I'm so stoked on Team Psychè’s Song, I could just ... combust!

Memorial Day Race Crew (2006)

Wet Wednesday - Spring Series

This shot is taken at the start of the 2nd race in this series.



This shot was taken as we were tacking away from H-Mark!

We finished the last race tonight: a sterling performance of crew work in extremely challenging, changing conditions: a drifter for nano seconds at the start and 90 seconds at the leeward mark, sandwiched between 15-25(!) knots on contrasting seas, reaching a top speed of 9.6 knots!

We were 3rd to finish. For the effort we were awarded 5th place, and won 5th place over all for the series. But after an exhilarating day like this, how we corrected out was irrelevant.

Wet Wednesday (2-May-06)

Dave McEachen