Log of Alberg 30 #262 on 07 May 2023

Date: 07 May 2023 0900 till 07 May 2023 1600
Endpoints: Yacht Haven Annapolis Eastport MD to Yacht Haven Annapolis Eastport MD
Purpose: NOOD Day Three
Complement: Anna Noguchi (jib trim), Matt Alisch (tactics), Meredith Glacken (bow), Anabel Chambers (pit), and Jonathan Bresler
Weather: SE 5kts to 9kts per buoy AN.
Engine Hours: 378.4 to 37x.x
Fuel: 1/3 tank
Chart: 12282 Chesapeake Bay Severn and Magothy Rivers

Sails: Pandora mainsail and 169LP genoa and EP Sails spinnaker.
Event: 2023 Annapolis Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta
Course: 0.75nm, two laps, gate the the leeward end, windward and offset mark.
Day's Results: Constance, Windswept, Argo, Laughing Gull, Sabrina, Rinn Duin. First race RC file (PDF), Second race RC file (PDF)
Series Results: Argo (15), Laughing Gull (16), Constance (17), Windswept (17), Sabrina (27), Rinn Duin (36)

Yesterday, Pat Seidel removed two turns from the forward lower and the upper shrouds for improved light air performance. Seems to have made a meaningful difference.

Hard current flowing down the Bay due to open gates at Conwingo Dam. Reduced water flow from the dam, about 60k cubic feet per second vs 80k on Friday. Today the current would push boats over the starting line early and make rounding the windward mark easier.

First race, we started among a crowd of boats. Very poor place to be. Tacked out to port ducking Windswept to clear. Got clear air and the boat moving well and tacked back to starboard. Remained on starboard, heading for the shipping channel, seeking stronger current running down the Bay. Decision paid off well.
Rounded the first mark well clear of the fleet. Same for the gate.
On the second upwind leg, we decided to stay closer to the middle of the course. This was an unforced error.
As a result, Argo, Laughing Gull, and Windswept got ahead of us. Chased downwind on the final leg. Succeeded in passing Laughing Gull, but ended up third. Texted my wife after the race at 12:28.
Now one point behind Windswept: Argo (11), Laughing Gull (13), Windswept (15), Constance (16 SCP/14), Sabrina (22), and Rinn Duin (30).
Four lengths of 0.75nm; Started 1122; Argo finished 1212; 3nm in 50minutes = 3.6kts.

Second and last race, the wind lightened so that we were seeing speeds of 5 and 6kts. The fleet approached the line on starboard tack too early. We followed, working to slow the boat with sails barely drawing. The results were fouls and Laughing Gull over early. We were able to harden up and start cleanly in good position. Focused intently on driving, leaving all other considerations to the crew. Received position reports from them. By now, the "Annapolis Bounce" was evident. The "Bounce" combined with the light winds caused us to sail a bit off the wind, deliberately, in order to maintain more power in the sails, chosing to sacrifice point for speed (pressing). It was the correct decision. Arrived at the windward ahead of the fleet by several boatlengths.
Gybed to port soon after rounding the mark. During the run to the gate, streched out lead over fleet, worked to maintain same heading as Windswept so that we would match, or exceed, her boat speed. The winds has fallen rather light, seeing as low as 3kts apparent wind at an angle of 120* to 130*. Gybed to starboard to enter the gate. Rolled out the genoa about five lengths from the gate. Doused just before the gate. RC showing "-" board for shortening the windward leg.
Rounded and led the fleet upwind. RC boat at the windward mark showing Sierra flag, shorten course, and so we finished at the windward mark ten of more boatlengths ahead of Windswept.
Now tied in points and ahead on tiebreakers on Windswept: Argo (15), Laughing Gull (16), Constance (17 SCP/15), Windswept (17), Sabrina (27), and Rinn Duin (36).
Two lengths of 0.75nm and one of 0.5nm; Started 1252; Constance finished 1343; 2nm in 51minutes = 2.35kts.

One foul-up in today's racing, spinnaker pole on top of the starboard jibsheet. Matt cleared the foul smoothly and without drama.

Cudda, Shudda, Wudda Department:

Had we not made a tactical error in the first race, we would have maintained our place, finishing ahead of Windswept, Argo and the rest of the fleet, thereby reducing our score by two points (finishing first in place of third).
Sabrina never flew a protest flag which is required by Rule 61.1 Informing the Protestee. As a result, perhaps we could have declined to file an Alternative Penalty Acknowledgement Form and saved ourselves two points resulting in a tie score with Argo.
Had we worked through the rules on the boat quickly enough in the first race, we could have done a single turn per Sailing Instructions 15.1 "US Sailing Prescription Appendix V – ALTERNATIVE PENALTIES will apply." which reads "The first two sentences of rule 44.1 are changed to: ‘A boat may take a One-Turn Penalty when she may have broken one or more rules of Part 2 or rule 31 in an incident while racing." A single turn would not have lost us two places.