Eight boats appeared for this years Bruce Rankin Memorial Regatta. #247 Argo was paired, with #550 Skybird captained by Mike Nikolich, started the day two points behind #244 Lingin captained by Tim Williams paired with #197 Laughing Gull captained by Jonathan Adams.
Two races, both held in Sillery Bay on the Magothy between Gibson and Dobbin Islands. First course upwind from mid bay to the top of the bay, downwind to the bottom and back upwind to the start. Second race same as the first but after rouding the leeward mark to starboard, close reached off to the west to the finish.
Due the the winds, took one reef in the main. Practiced shaking out and reefing. Within five minutes of the first start, noticed that the gooseneck fitting had pulled out of the mast at the bottom and nearly all the way to the top of the fitting. Slacked off the main halyard, tack reef line, and clew reef line. Lashed the gooseneck to the mast with 3/8" double braid. About five turns round the fitting and the mast. Started last. Did not shake out the reef at the windward mark when all other boats did. Finished 5th. Skybird finished 6th. Dropped six points to #197/#244.
Spent the break relashing the gooseneck to the mast. Winds moderated to moderate breeze. Shook out the reef in the main.
Second race, hunted by #197 at the start. Forced into a bad start in fifth position. Sailed well and finished 2nd. Skybird finished 8th. Dropped five points to #197/#244.