Log of Alberg 30 #262 on 05 May 2021

Endpoints: Yacht Haven Annapolis Eastport MD to Yacht Haven Annapolis Eastport MD
Purpose: AYC WNR Series 1 Race 3
Complement: Coleen Menucci (mainsheet trim), Meredith Glacken (genoa), Christian Douglas (pit), Helen Hale (genoa), Dave Butta (foredeck), and Yoni Bresler
Weather: NW Force 6 fading to Force 4 at the finish line. Low 70's, dropping to 60.
Engine Hours: 299.7 to 300.3
Fuel: 1/4 tank
Chart: 12282 Chesapeake Bay Severn and Magothy Rivers

Course: A3.
Time limit: 2020.
135LP genoa and Interrupt mainsail.

Quite surprised that the Annapolis Yacht Club Race Committee did not call of the race. Had thought that we all had come to the boat for a practice session in place of a race. Feelingn a bit despondent after the weekend. Meredith told me that she and Helen were blaming themselves for the outcome. Not the case. My poor starts put us in the hole from the start.

Suggestions that we use the #1 genoa were made before leaving dock. Motored out to see the winds in the river before raising sail. Small whitecaps were racing down the Severn at Triton Point. Decided that the 135LP would be appropriate, particularly in light of the desire to try a smaller headsail and full main vs the larger headsails and single reefed mains that were expected aboard the other boats. Use the Academy to provide a bit of lee for raising the main and the 135LP.

Lost track of start time despite the new Timex Ironman interval timer working well. Started at the pin end two minutes (timed) behind LinGin and Rinn Duin. Tacked downwind. Sailed dead downwind a bit trying wing and wing without the spinnaker pole. Poled out the 135LP using the spinnaker pole for a few minutes before the last gybe onto port ahead of the pin. Boat speeds of 7kts frequently, at times hitting 8kts. LinGin may have been using the #2 (clew at the forward end of the cabin windows) and a single reef into the main, while Rinn Duin may have used the #1 with a single reef in the main. The main aboard Constance was not reefed.

Rounded the leeward mark by hauling in the mainsheet alone, no tiller/rudder articulation required. Passed Rinn Duin, with Woody, TC, and Mike aboard, quite soon after rounding the leeward mark with good speed and proceeded to walk away from them. Furtherm, reduced the gap to LinGin while sailing upwind to R"8" Five boards to reach R"8". Held on the first board N by E till Rinn Duin tacked, then followed her quickly onto starboard tack. Three boards with speeds of 5 to 6kts under the 135LP and full main. Boat was on its ear much of the time, occasionally burying the leeward rail. Spray flying from the bow and hitting the driver, at times. Dave and Christian took quite a soaking on the windward rail. Coleen's main trimming improved throughout the sail, needing much less input by the end of the upwind legs vs the beginning. Helm was reasonably "light" given the weather with occasional lee helm, even. Towards the end of the evening, it seemed that Coleen was steering via main trim using the position of the tiller as the controlling input. Slide off the weather seat between the winch and the cabin top, perhaps three times. Mainly (always?) on port tack when the wooden icebox lid was under at least one foot.

Put in a single reef at the end of the board approaching Chesapeake Harbor. Talked through the procedure twice before reefing. Good we did, as I mistook the order of tensioning the main halyard and ther reef line the first time. Crew worked very well. Reef went in without an issue. We took the reef on starboard tack, just the tack ring and reefing line are set up for us to do. After reefing, speed increased to 5.5 to 6kts.

By the time that we tacked away from Annapolis Maryland Capital Yacht Club towards the Naval Academy, LinGin was towards the Naval Academy, tacking to make the finish line.

Take aways:

Should have had everyone don foulies.
Should have had everyone in PFDs.
Talking through the reefing procedure before reefing was very valuable.
The wind was strong enough that the reefing sequence did not appear to cost us much in time or speed (verify via track).
Genoa is too twisted off, needed to check lead cars again after pushing them forward three holes in the track.
Backstay adjuster worked well again. Had it set to 3, if I remember correctly.

Finishing order: LinGin, Constance, Rinn Duin.

GPX formatted Track . Estimate distance: 8.05nm, estimated average speed: 5.65 , estimated duration: 1:25

Annapolis Weather Buoy Wind Speeds Annapolis Weather Buoy Wind Gusts