Course: ??
Sails: Elliott/Pattison Sailmakers
169LP genoa and Interrupt main. Backstay at 3.
Before the start, a competitor reported by radio to the race committee that there was a tornado on the Severn River. Saw it beyond the Naval Academy, perhaps in Round Bay.
Started 25 seconds late on close hauled course at the committee boat with one reef in the main with 13+kts apparent wind. No one else reefed. Wind conditions that are not especially loved.
Unable to point well. Due to reef? Due to the Interrupt main being stretched out? Argo crossed our bow soon after the start. Fell below the line of both White Cap and Skybird despite having started above the line of both.
After two tacks to get above the first mark, shook out the reef. By this time, we were well behind everyone else.
After rounding the turning mark, headed back in. Good rounding. As we came to a point south of Y"A", we could see on the water ahead that conditions were changing with considerably more wind ahead. Skybird appeared to be having problems as their genoa was luffing from luff to clew. Argo abandoned the race heading back to Whitehall Bay
Rolled in the genoa to accomodate the impending conditions. Heavy rain began around 1915. Sent Fred below to don foul weather gear. Sheeted in hard so that the boat would jog upwind on alternate tacks on her own and joined Fred below to put on my foulies.
White out conditions. Asked Fred to use nav software on his phone to guide us to R"8". Woodwind sitting with all sail doused. Fred initial report was that we were headed to Horn Point. Actually headed to R"2E". Tacked. Next report had me turn the boat till the course was 120*. I failed to object and state that often I sail 120* when headed out of the river. Head out to within a quarter-mile of Y"A". Took us eleven minutes to sail out and recover the distance.
Storm largely over by 1937. Rolled out the genoa and finished the race, shortened to R"8".
T2P.tv video.
GPX formatted track Distance: 7.81nm, estimated average speed: 4.2kts, estimated duration: 1:51