Log of Alberg 30 #262 on 19 May 2021

Endpoints: Yacht Haven Annapolis Eastport MD to Yacht Haven Annapolis Eastport MD
Purpose: AYC WNR Race 4
Complement: Meredith Glacken (bow), Helen Hunt (genoa and spin trim), Logan Douglas (pit), and Yoni Bresler
Weather: Generally Force 3 dropping to Force 2 from the south bending round Tolly Point. High 60s
Engine Hours: 300.8 to 301.5
Fuel: 1/4 tank
Chart: 12282 Chesapeake Bay Severn and Magothy Rivers

Course: A2
Time limit: 2020
Sails: Interrupt 170LP genoa and main.

Resolved to stick close to LinGin in order to get a decent start. LinGin was hanging out at the boat end of the line and some 100 yards behind the line. So we joined LinGin and Ronin headed away from the line on port tack. After LinGin and Ronin tacked back towards the line, on starboard, we tacked as well. Could have delayed a bit, as we needed to free sheets completely to prevent the boat from arriving to early at the line. With sheets free aboard Constance, a Frers 33, Where Egos Dare, came up below us and forced us to head up nearly head to wind. LinGin was ahead of us and a bit to windward. LinGin ended up sheeting in and heading down the line awaiting the start while we held our place. Started after the gun, to starboard of the fleet, with LinGin below us and Kahawai below LinGin.

First board on starboard tack took us toward R"4" and the Greenbury Point shoal. Kahawai was some five boatlengths below and about even. LinGin was a couple boat lengths below and sufficiently ahead that when she tacked onto port, she was able to cross about two boat lengths ahead of us. We tacked onto port after going a bit past LinGin's line. The returning J/105 fleet with spinnakers set caused us a bit of concern but no trouble in the end. We were able to pass astern of a couple boats, Mirage included, and ahead of many. Looks like we were either pinching a bit or needed to sheet in the genoa a bit more as the port telltales are near vertical while LinGin's are streaming aft smoothly on both sides of the sail. (see video 6:00)

Lost distance to LinGin on the port tack board. We came out of the tack slow and failed to accelerate quickly enough. T2P.tv footage is from this board. Tacked back to starboard once we were aceross LinGin's line. May have been too far as we needed to head down a bit to the mark. Was having a bit of trouble on this third board with weather helm which slowed us. As did some backwinding of the main. Need to drive from the low side a bit to see what's going on down there. Reached the turning mark, "D", about ten lengths behind LinGin.

The return leg was a beam reach with the spinnaker pole far forward at the start and the wind dying a bit and coming more aft as we past R"4" and G"5". We were slow to get the spinnaker up, set and drawing well. Just need more practice. LinGin got their chute up quickly and opened up their lead a bit on the first part of this "downwind" leg; we pulled reeled them back in a bit in the second half. Kahawai, with Rick and Debbie aboard, had significant problems getting the chute set and fell much further behind on this leg. Talked through the takedown twice before execution. Bit of a problem with the takedown. The clew of the spinnaker was allowed to get nearly to the end of the boom, functioning as a brake. Snagged the sail on the first reef cheek block, but got it freed and the chute below with enough time to allow a reasonable rounding of R"8" using mailsail trim alone to head the boat up.

Three boards to reach the finish. The first took us just past the upstream end of the mooring field. The second nearly to the docks on the Eastport side of Spa Creek, and the last to the finish.

Lovely evening.

Finishing order: LinGin, Constance, Kahawai.

No GPX formatted track . Estimate distance: 6.00nm, estimated average speed: 4, estimated duration: 1:30