Log of Alberg 30 #262 on 12 July 2023

Date: 12 July 2023 1830 till 12 July 2023 1940
Endpoints: Yacht Haven Annapolis Eastport MD to Yacht Haven Annapolis Eastport MD
Purpose: AYC WNR Race Series 2 Race 4
Complement: Meredith Glacken (bow), Christian Douglas (pit), Mike Nikolich (genoa and spinnaker trim), Logan Douglas, Fred Alvarado, and Yoni Bresler
Weather: S Force 3 wrapping around Tolly Point becoming SE. Low 80's
Engine Hours: 3??.? to 396.3 engine hours invalid due to weather
Fuel: 3/4 tank
Chart: 12282 Chesapeake Bay Severn and Magothy Rivers

Course: A3
Sails: Elliott/Pattison Sailmakers 169LP genoa and Interrupt main. EP Sails spinnaker. Backstay at 3.

Started about 20 seconds late behind Rinn Duin who managed to start from a position beside the committee boat and outside the line right on time. They bore off, ducked the committee and started beautifully. Argo was quite late to the start. Rolled Rinn Duin to windward within a couple minutes of the start. Argo may have gone right, towards Bembe Beach early. We headed out on starboard tack till five lengths below the layline, then tacked to port to set up the next board to fetch Mark "A".

After tacking onto port, crossed Rinn Duin with several lengths to spare and headed for the southwest shore of the Severn to fetch Mark "A". Went several lengths beyond Mark "A" to get a good pine out into the Bay. Not far enough to fetch the turning mark, Mark "D". By contrast both Argo and Rinn Duin went significantly closer to the southwest shore of the Severn and did not have to tack to fetch Mark "D". Making good speed, hitting the polars for 10 to 12 knots while bleeding a lot of wind out of the main with the 169LP genoa trimmed in for close-hauled beating to windward. Used puffs to work the boat to windward but not enough to fetch the mark.

Rounded Mark "D" by following White Cap's transom round and well ahead of Argo. Argo has passed Rinn Duin and made up a lot of ground on us in the beat. Using the practice main and my dislike for this wind, too strong from the #1 and too weak to commit to the 135LP genoa...flogging the main with the boat heeled over so that the rail is nearly into the water or in the water.

Raised the spinnaker after gybing with the starboard sheet fouled in the lifeline. While that was being straightened out, furled the genoa. Maintained spacing on both White Cap from behind and Argo from in front to R"8". Not an easy run at times. Needed to work down to R"8" while seeing as much as 13knots on the meter, while the boat was making 6+knots over the ground. Does not match the wind reports from the buoy. Dropped and stuff the spinnaker below a bit early, no drama.

Rounded R"8" just ahead of Vahalla 3.0, a J/30. Allowed them to turn inside of us and move ahead. No point in fighting with them as they owe us about 85 seconds per mile in PHRF rating. Rounded well before Argo and maintained that lead to the finish. Had to duck White Cap just after clearing the mooring field. That combined with the fickle wind in Spa Creek, necessitated another two tacks. Sailed to speed across Spa Creek and to the finish, speed rather than height on the wind.

Finished ahead of White Cap by a bit and well ahead of Argo. Met Argo about at the ChartHouse and Rinn Duin out past "SC1".

Finishing order: 262, 247, 272. Did not compete: 158, 550.

T2P.tv video.

GPX formatted track started late. Distance: 3.98+nm, estimated average speed: 5.27kts, estimated duration: 0:45+