Course: B3.
Sails: Elliott/Pattison Sailmakers
169LP genoa and Interrupt main. Backstay at 3.
Training continues. No spinnaker work this evening due to the strength of the winds.
Engine cut out before the start while on starboard tack under main alone. Suspect fuel starvation, comparatively little fuel in the tank and we were heeled away from the starboard side located fuel pickup which is located 1.5" from the the starboard sidewall of a 20" wide tank. The end of the pickup line is some distance above the bottom of the tank.
J/105 class had a general recall and was dispatched to restart after our class. Resonable start impeded somewhat by J/105's between us and the line in the minute immediately before the start. Called out to the skippers that we were starting. They were kind enough to turn down, and clear the line so that we could tack from port to starboard to start. Ended up behind both Argo and Skybird. Anabel stated that the wind was more favorable on the right side of the course, that we would be lifted over there. Moving to the right side of the course had the added advantage that we would be above the J/105's all the way to the mark. Tacked to port after three and half minutes, passing the length of the starting line, and thereby getting to windward of the J/105 fleet. Continued on port tack to within five boat lengths of shallow water. Could have gone a bit further, probably should have, Ronin, Cal 25, did do so.
Ended up pinching some on the way to mark "A", which was placed well to the right side of the course. Skybird crossed our bow by about five boat lengths. As we approached the mark, the J/105 fleet caught up with us. One pasted close astern, quite close. Four passed directly ahead in a tight bunch, the closest one being too close for my comfort. Fortunately, had received notice from Anabel that a number of J/105's would be crossing, so I was not surprised. Rounded mark "A" in the midst of that fleet and headed for mark "B".
Sailed directly to mark "B", which placed us below most of the J/105's. Repeated wind shadows left us losing distance on both Argo and Skybird. On the final approach to mark "B", Ronin was above, perhaps overlapped, called out to the skipper to see if he was calling overlap. Gave him mark room by passing a length beyond the mark before changing course. Ended up rounding some ten lengths behind Skybird. Harded up on the wind at mark "B", which placed us heading directly into the wind driven waves. Given that each wave of size would noticeably slow the boat, we decided to tack onto port and head back in towards the Severn in the hope that the waves would be less damaging to boat speed as we moved down Bay closer to mark "E". On the longer board, starboard tack, out of the river, we encountered wave action on the nose again. Encouraged the crew to call out the larger waves. May have been a bit less damaging than the waves at mark "B".
On the approach to mark "E", on starboard tack, found ourselves some six lengths below Argo and some four lengths behind. Skybird crossed our bow, once again, but closer; we had closed the gap to perhaps three lengths. After tacking on to port, had to duck Skybird, a bit of an ugly duck, due late notification...not a hard duck, but a bit ugly. Drove from the low side during this maneuver. We had closed to within one length on Skybird. On the final approach to mark "E", we ended ahead of Skybird by two lengths. Evidently, after our duck, Skybird Rounded "E" and headed for R"4". Board started as a beam reach. The wind ended up further and further aft with us headed higher and higher, compared to the wind, to keep the genoa pulling. Sailed through the lee of Ronin on the way to R"4" or perhaps somewhat after passing R"4". Skybird headed a bit high coming out of mark "E" and remained high. As we turned down 20* after R"4" to fetch R"8", Skybird's height turned into distance behind. After passing both R"4" and Ronin, sailed as deep as I could while keeping the genoa pulling strongly. Earlier Anabel had suggested that we might sail wing-on-wing after rounding mark "E". Given how deep we were sailing and needing to sail deeper yet for the mark, decided to take the suggestion, head 20* further downwind and go wing-on-wing. Difficult sailing a 169LP genoa wing-on-wing, to little control of the sail given the size and too short a board to consider rigging a pole for the clew. Even a well practiced crew would have made a pole a bit questionable as we sailed wing-on-wing for a bit under three minutes.
Hardened up at R"8" to a close reach and headed for G"1SC". Winds increased, rounding the boat up some in gusts, difficult sailing making me wish that we had the 135LP up in place of the 169LP. After rounding G"1SC", the wind would shift from close hauled to heading us, nearly backwinding the 169LP. As we approached the boats in the mooring field, we did auto-tack. Took a short board before tacking back...slow maneuvering making us lose ground to both Ronin and Skybird. Could not clear the piers on the northwest side of Spa Creek. Yet two more tacks, taking the cross-creek tack very nearly as far as possible.
Last board to the finish with Skybird below and behind us. Was able to head off the wind a bit for greater speed. Finished twelve seconds ahead of Skybird, which converts to 100 feet at 5kts....that's too much, Skybird appeared to be one length behind.
Anabel struggled all night with the genoa. I should have asked Eric to come back and help her from the start. Overpowered nearly the entire night due to the 169LP genoa. Needed to move the genoa cars aft to twist off the top of the sail. Thought of this only after the race ended.
Sailed toward the alley to the slip, dropped main a bit too early, lost momentum and had to use boat hooks to drag the boat the length of the alley before turning into the slip.
Finishing order: 247, 262, 550. Did not compete: 272.
T2P.tv video.
GPX formatted track Distance: 8.43nm, estimated average speed: 5.2kts, estimated duration: 1:36