Sailed with Hank and Ed. I drove, worked spinnaker guy, topping lift and downhaul. Ed did foredeck. Hank flew jib trim and spinnaker trim. Arrived at the start area about 30 minutes early. In sail mode with 20 minutes to go. Four boats: Argo, Lingin, Second-2-Nun, and Asylum. Mike laid up with engine issues. Jonathan did not show. Upwind start. Sailed up and downstream about 20 yards off of the committee waiting for the start. No radio. Unexpected flag action. Appeared that class flags were raised 1 minute before the start as the prep flag came down. That was messing with me. Fortunately we were close enough to the start to cross the line next to the committee, the favored end, "only" 50 yards behind Tim and Harry. Course D1: A, G5, R8, home.
Sailed well upwind on starboard tack the entire distance to mark "A". Passed well below Harry. Made the windward mark with a boat length of Tim. Rounded the mark. Wind now on port beam. Next mark G "5".
Then it all fell apart. Could not get the spinnaker to fly well. Hank was having troubles. Ed was advising. Could not see the sail well enough to comment. Was left with explaining general spinnaker trim rules. Tim sailed away from us. Wind started to weaken. Harry rolled over us. Finally gave up on the spinnaker about 50 yards from G "5" and went back to jib.
Rounded well before Asylum but well behind Tim and Harry. On to starboard tack. Near the lay line switched over to port tack. "Caught" up to a J70. The J70 was moving slowing trying to use spinnaker and tack downwind. They claimed we had no rights and they could fall down onto our line since we had come up from behind to leeward. Asked if they were saying that an "Alberg 30 had sailed faster in light air than a J70?" They claimed we did! Could not get it in writing though.
Finished third at the boat and R "8". We were all so intent upon the mark and sailing that no one heard the whistle at R "8". No one saw the "S" flag on the mark boat. Continued "racing" towards the harbor. DOH! Till we bagged it due to total calm about 8PM and returned to dock.
A very quiet end to the season.