Course: B4.
Time limit: 2020.
Interrupt genoa, Interrupt mainsail, Elliott-Pattison spinnaker.
Did not leave the dock till 5:40+ due to a couple crew running late.
Motored out to the course, turned the corner at SSA just before the committee started its opening announcements. Appendix U Audible starting signals again. We were able to follow and stay on top of the sequence this time. With two minutes to go, let TC convince me to sail down to and above the pin to check the wind and the lay of the starting line. Not enough time. Headed back towards the committee on port tack, driving downwind to get back across the line before the start. Started on port tack, mid-line, close to the sound of the gun. LinGin running late, arriving a bit after the start, and so was "On Course Side".
Starting on port, had to cross a few PHRF boats and Cal 25's, as well as, duck a couple others. Once clear of all starters, tacked over to starboard. Was able to lay the mark 'A' in a single board. Throughout this board, we sailed above LinGin by some five boatlengths, maintaining the point and speed as LinGin. LinGin was continually visible on our port quarter as I drove from the high position between the cabin top and the primary winch on the starboard side. Got a couple lifts along the way which made it easy to lay the mark. LinGin had to make two tacks to make the mark. Light helm, able to sail to windward with fighting the tiller despite a tightly sheeted main and elevated traveler. Traveler configuration worked well, easily adjusted while driving. Was in the zone while driving and the boat felt in the groove. Same for the second upwind leg.
Raised the new spinnaker. Sailed high a bit to get over top of a White Cap, a Cal 25, and position ourselves ahead of another Cal 25, Ronin. LinGin was well behind us at this point, perhaps we much as 15 boat lengths. We maintained out lead all the way to mark 'B'. In the middle of this leg, the T2P.tv filmed us (timestamp 8:24). Rounded 'B' and hardened up onto starboard tack.
Sailed out towards the Bay till LinGin tacked, then tacked to port to cover. When LinGin tacked back to port, keep on starboard till we were between LinGin and mark 'D', then tacked to starboard to cover LinGin. Was able to tack well, not too sharply and not turning the boat beyond the new course, but for the second to last tack before mark 'D'. Turned too far on that one. And we had tacked too early. Both errors forced us to make two extra tacks to clear mark 'D'. Need to make sure that we continue till the mark is at about 100* before tacking. On these boards, the helm was light as well, at times without feel even. In the few gusts, was able to allow the boat to heel, round up a bit on her own, begin to stand back up, and guide her gently back onto course with little steering input.
LinGin set spinnaker immediately after rounding mark 'D'. We did not. The course was a beam reach to R'8', a bit tight for a spinnaker. Nonetheless, LinGin was able to carry, albeit with some trouble, so we had to set. The spinnaker add a knot of speed; the distance from mark 'D' to R'8' is about 1.7nm. LinGin caught up with us some on this leg, both before we set and after. We need to get better downwind. Finished about five lengths in front of LinGin.
Finishing order: Constance, LinGin, (Did not start: Rinn Duin. Kahawai and Skybird)
Trim Notes: Crew weight was too far aft and needs to be consolidated closer to the mast. Vang is too tight cupping the leech - ease about .5-1 in. Main needs to be trimmed in about 1 foot. Could get more power out of it. (all the above per Pat Seidel). Vertical wrinkles in the main, need more outhaul, it would seem.
GPX formatted Track . Estimate distance: 6.31nm, estimated average speed: 4.7, estimated duration: 1:20