Interrupt mainsail, Interrupt genoa, Interrupt spinnaker

Weather dominated by a high pressure system centered about 100 miles north of Lake Ontario.

This weekend is the first use of the Interrupt 170LP genoa mounted on the furler.

Arose at 0430. Left the house at 0530. Dropped my car at Yacht Haven Annapolis. Arrived in Oxford, at Case & Cutts before 8am, before TC and Meredith. Windswept was unable to start due to a failed fuel pump. Lanny chose to remain in Oxford seeking a replacement. We were slow to get away from the dock and did not reach the start line till about 0855 for an 0835 start. When we started, there were no other Albergs in the area. No radio announcements of starts, strictly flags and sounds. Would have been nice to have been notified that the race committee would be relying on flags and sounds only.

Spotted LinGin, identified by spinnaker, away towards the Choptank river light. Immediately after starting, we headed to starboard to clear the starting area for others starting on time. Sailed out of the wind by doing so. Turned due south and our speed picked up. Headed across the Tred Avon to port to get above the Navy 44's and our speed increased further. Arrived at the first turning mark, R"14", just a bit behind the Navy 44's, but last among all boats. Just as well. Being last allowed us to have Meredith gybe the spinnaker (for the first time?) without traffic or other concerns.

Sailed close reach rather than beat angles while working our way towards R"10" due to the very light winds ... perferring speed over point in these conditions. Angles of 100 to 120 degrees. Carnival Lady dropped out about 1135. Don't know when LinGin retired. Wind died about 1130, then started to fill about noon. Slowly we made our way toward R"10". Closest approach was 0.42nm per TC's handheld Garmin. The VMG feature again proved its worth. Need to make sure that a VMG readout is available on the Home Brew nav system.

By the time that we approached R"10", about 1400, contacted the race committee to determine the time of that the first Alberg 30 finished and thereby started the two hour clock for all finishers. None had finished. Hopes danced in our heads of a bit of wind and ghosting to a win. It was not to be. The wind died completely, leaving us adrift. Slowly, 0.7 to 0.9knots, we drifted out to the mouth of the Choptank ensuring that we would never be able to leave R"10" to port in before the time limit expired.

Flipper, a Multihull B, finished sometime after 1400, after having past outside the line the being able to make their way and finish correctly. Revolution, a CRCA ORR-Ez B, was the last boat to finish. We did not wait to see it happen, after having watched their great difficulties in making R"10". Four boats of 55 finished. Twenty chose not to start.

Packed it in about 1600 and motored back to Annapolis. Made the turn from the eastern shore towards the western after a container vessel and a Carnival cruise liner steamed down the channel so that we would pass astern. Spotted another vessel headed into Baltimore, making good speed past those anchored off Annapolis somewhat before we reached G"1AH". Very quiet night, a light air, flat water.

Meredith and TC were wonderful to have aboard. Fourteen hours of frustrating conditions failed to try their patience in the least. Cheerful and a pleasure to have aboard throughout.

GPX formatted Track distance: 12.98nm, average speed: 1.8kts, duration: 7:10
GPX formatted Track distance: 23.93, average speed: 3.9kts, duration: 6:09