Log of Alberg 30 #262 on 22 September 2024

Date: 22 September 2024 0900 till 22 September 2024 1350
Endpoints: Potapskut Sailing Association to Potapskut Sailing Association
Purpose: Rankin Regatta Sunday Race
Complement: Mike Meinhold (bow), Will McCollum (spinnaker trim and genoa), Eric Garvey (genoa trim and pit), Heather, and Yoni Bresler
Weather: NE Force 3 (barely) fading to calm.
Engine Hours: 453.9 to 45?.?
Fuel: 3/4 tank
Chart: 12282 Chesapeake Bay Severn and Magothy Rivers

Course: MRSA Marks D-A-D twice around. Leave all marks to port. Sails: Pandora mainsail, 169 genoa, and EP Sails spinnaker.

Heather suggested that we sail with her boyfriend, Will, and another friend Eric. All three sailed together on the University of Maryland sailing team. Good choices. Both Will and Eric learned the boat quickly, responded well to information provided, and were active in moving as needed to maintain proper level of heel and to address any problem that arose. Mike was his solid, reliable, very competent self. A pleasure to have each person aboard.

Explained the boat and the roller furler, with details regarding separating the genoa furling from spinnaker actions, to all aboard in detail before we started racing. No problems. No arguments. A very nice change from the NOOD.

Very shiftly wind conditions with quite different wind on different parts of the course. Carnival Lady and Argo benefitted markedly from head to Dobbins Island, picking up significant distance on Skybird and Constance during the first upwind leg.

Arrived at "A" about a boat length below the mark and in last place. Able to shoot the mark, barely. Nearly swept by what little current there was into the mark, but managed to rotate the boat around the mark, coming within inches but not touching.

Before the spinnaker set, the spin halyard was pulled into furling genoa. Quickly fixed and followed with a clean set. Past to windward of Skybird on the downwind leg, showing markedly better boat speed downwind. Mike doused the spinnaker down the forward hatch rather than through the companionway. An interesting variation on what we have been doing for years.

Traded tacks with Skybird on the second upwind leg. Again Carnival Lady and Argo benefitted from heading to Dobbins.

Arrived at "A" about two or three lengths below the mark, as the wind lifted us above the mark, and then came forward pushing us below the mark. Skybird rounded ahead of us. We had to double-tack to make the mark.

Again past Skybird on the downwind leg, this time on port tack with Skybird on starboard. Got some five lengths ahead by the finish.

Finishing order: Carnival Lady, Argo, Constance, and Skybird.

No GPX formatted track. Estimated Distance: 9.5nm, estimated average speed: ?.?kts, estimated duration: ~4.5 hours