2019 NOOD Day One on 03 May 2019

Date: 03 May 2019 09:00 till 03 May 2019 17:00
Endpoints: Yacht Haven Annapolis to Yacht Haven Annapolis
Purpose: Racing
Complement: TC Williams (crew chief), Rick Chambers (jib trim), Debbie McKean (pit), Dave Butta (foredeck), and Jonathan Bresler (skipper)
Weather: As much as 17 knots apparent, fading to as little as 4 knots apparent on the final run. Mid-70s.
Engine Hours: 196.1 to ...
Chart: 12282 Chesapeake Bay Severn and Magothy Rivers

Sails: Interrupt mainsail, Tatus II genoa and spinnaker.

Three races this day.

At approximately 30 seconds to the start of the first race of the 2019 Annapolis NOOD , while maneuvering to start, the tiller head broke. The two "ears" located to either side of the rudderhead broke off even with crossbar of the H shaped tillerhead. No chance to race. Dropped out immediately. Entire crew took it very well. No complaints. All engaged in finding a fix and passing the time with goodwill.

Spent some period of time trying to determine if a field fix was possible and how it might be accomplished. No fix found. The 18" cresent wrench aboard worked well enough as an emergency tiller by adjusting the jaws to fit the rudderhead. The angular offset of the wrench limits the range of "tiller" (wrench) movement in one direction.

Solution hit upon (by Debbie?) was to call Rick Chambers, ask him to drive to TC's house, grab Argo's tiller, and bring it out to us aboard Kahawai #411. This Rick did, and jumped aboard Constance to race, after anchoring Kahawai. Missed the first two races of the NOOD. Scored as DNS. Assigned two points more than the last boat to finish, hence scored seven points in each of the first two races.

In the start of the third and last race of the day, on starboard tack while approaching the line from beyond the committee boat, fouled by Laughing Gull on port tack, forcing me to alter course to avoid a collision. Would have been a t-bone. Ducked Laughing Gull, following TC's directions, ran down the line at speed, coming up fast on Prudence driven by Pat Seidel. Overtook Prudence to leeward and turned upwind to start. Won the start and lead the fleet for a little while. In the breezes available, when driven properly, Constance was able to keep up with the fleet in both point and speed. Our problem was my inconsistent driving. Would find the groove and get the boat moving well, with both point and speed, then lose one or both of the two. Re-gain one or both and then lose themm again. The crew tolerated my inability to drive well consistently with grace.

Rounded the windward mark in reasonable position, not first, not last, perhaps fourth. Lost distance on the downwind leg. Slow to get the spinnaker set.

At the leeward mark, rounded well, hot on the heels of the lead boats, turning Constance by trimmin in smartly on the mainsheet. Rounded the weather mark in fifth, lost more distance on the run due to my sailing too deep for the amount of wind available and slowness in getting the spinnaker set.

Finished the race fifth out of six. Finishing order: Prudence, LinGin, Laughing Gull, Windswept, Constance, Latika.