Log of Alberg 30 #262 on 28 April 2021

Endpoints: Yacht Haven Annapolis Eastport MD to Yacht Haven Annapolis Eastport MD
Purpose: AYC WNR Series 1 Race 2
Complement: Jonathan Adams, Meredith Glacken, Christian Douglas, Helen Hale, and Yoni Bresler
Weather: S Force 4 fading to Force 1 at end. Clear, low 80's.
Engine Hours: 296.2 to 297.7
Fuel: 1/3 tank
Chart: 12282 Chesapeake Bay Severn and Magothy Rivers

Course: B3.
Time limit: 2020.
Interrupt genoa, Interrupt mainsail.

Started at the boat end about three lengths behind LinGin and Kahawai. Mistimed the start by what seemed twenty seconds. Kahawai out with a commanding lead (see 7:09 of T2P.tv video)

Kahawai moved very well on all legs showing good boat speed. Both LinGin and Kahawai rounded mark "A" ahead of us, having gained a bit. Our boat handling was a bit off, which is to be expected as this is the first time we have sailed/raced together.

Fell behind some on the reach to mark "B". Rounded the marked by tightening the mainsheet only. Kahawai headed to the right while LinGin went out towards the shipping channel. We continued for a few minutes after the mark rounding, then headed back in and tacked back out chasing LinGin. Kahawai arrived at mark "E" well ahead of the fleet. LinGin crossed us on each tack, but by progressively less and less, down to a single boat length. We were moving well upwind. Pleased with the backstay adjuster. Jonathan and Helen got tacking and handling the clew of the genoa sorted...waiting till the clew clears the leeward shrouds before bringing in the sheet. Both got better at sailing a bit "fat" at first after the tack to build speed before trimming for closehauled.

On what was to be the last tack before mark "E", it became clear that we would not make it without pinching, if at all. Sailed down a bit, to be fast, tacked to starboard outside the zone. Forced LinGin to tack, and we both rounded the mark in good order.

LinGin got their spinnaker set up and flying well to leeward of us. Did not try to prevent their positioning as the leg was a tight spinnaker reach. We took our time to set up correctly and to teach Meredith to run bow. Deliberate choice to use this day/race for learning rather than racing all out. Got the chute up and started moving. Helen trimming, she took the task, experimenting a bit, and quickly learning from her actions.

As we can back up river, the wind faded, so much so that LinGin and we were able to catch up to Kahawai. Kahawai had been 10+ lengths ahead. At mark Y"A", the wind had dropped and our speed had fallen to 4.6kts from a high of 6.5+. By mark R"4", we were down to 2.0-. LinGin tried to take us up a bit, we deliberately slowed the boat, opened a bit of space astern of LinGin, and dived below her, separating strongly. By R"6", the wind had dropped out to a Light Air, leaving us moving at less than a knot. From there it was a matter of ghosting to the finish. About 100 yards from the finish at R"8", LinGin switched to genoa and took the lead for the first time in the race. She moved relatively quickly, suggesting that she got, or used better, a puff that the rest of us seemed to miss. We switched to genoa as well and finished just two or three minutes before the 2020 time limit, as did Kahawai.

Take aways:

Backstay adjuster worked well. Tightening to 2.5 or 3 makes it much easier to furl and release the genoa.
Dedicated trimming, despite all the vagaries of the wind, Helen kept focus and did all that was possible to keep the boat moving.
Need more time together to get our movements aboard the boat and boat handling sorted.
Meredith is getting the hang of bow.
Christian did well in pit, as he always does.
Jonathan gets a bit excited and can lose language, speaking some nonsense syllables. Has a tendency to grab at the sheet and the traveler.
Need "arm case" for iNavX on the iPhone.
Lost the nut off the bolt holding the starboard traveler camcleat. Replace with a nylock.

Crossed the line ahead of the rest of the fleet, winning the race and the series.

Finishing order: LinGin, Constance, Kawahai.

GPX formatted Track . Estimate distance: 6.9nm, estimated average speed: 3.4kts , estimated duration: 2:00