[Public-List] WNR - the Last Four Races

[Jonathan Adams]

Attached is a write up for the last four races. See it also here if you want to comment. -- http://racing.alberg30.

I read Gord's email about racing around the island in the great lakes, and realized we had not had an update from the Chesapeake in a little while - I enjoy reading how others are doing around our community - so keep them coming.

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WNR - the Last Four Races

 
Well the last four races in the Annapolis Wednesday night series have been a true variety of experiences. Four races ago, we had an
incredible storm. If  you have not seen
the picture check it out here - http://picasaweb.google.com/jreadams6.yahoo.com/WNRStorm#5372590092911119762.
Lin Gin was the only one that got around the windward mark in time to be going
downwind when the storm hit. I believe Harry Gamber stayed in the race, but
Laughing Gull went directly to Pussers, and had a few of their rum drinks. The
wind may have reached 50 knots. I know that there was a period of time when the
boom was sitting in the water. It hit right as Argo, Second 2 Nun
and ourselves were at the windward mark. There was a 30 second window when we
could have tacked and got pointing the right way, but Second 2 Nun was sitting
right there, so until the initial blow was over, we all just headed further out
to the Bay.

This was followed by a race where the committee set the
course slightly long, and only one boat finished - all the others time limit
expired. We were sitting staring at the judges when they called TLE - bummer.
The committee at least logged me as TLE rather than DNC – not that this buys
you anything. Laughing Gull was having a good race too. Not that we caught up
to Lin Gin, but someone has to be giving that guy a run for his money.

The following week, the race committee over compensated and
set the course incredibly short. On top of that, the Committee decided that the
Alberg fleet's windward mark was going to be just above the turning point for
the faster boats. We were rounding the windward mark and cutting through the Eschels,
and the larger boats that all had their spinnakers up - chaos. We all got back
into the harbor, and it was anyone's race. On the way into the harbor, we had
our chutes up. As we got in - drastic wind shift - our genoas went up and we
were close hauled. Some boats went left and Lin Gin and Laughing Gull went
right (towards Pussers - for those that need a reference point involving a
drinking hole). All was going reasonably well until the wind shifted drastically
once again and Lin Gin and Laughing Gull went from somewhere in the front of
the pack, to fighting it out for last place. Laughing Gull won  that fight for last place.

The last race was just right - we could have used more wind,
but ... at least it did not rain. Laughing Gull went wide on way to the
windward mark, and kept to the Hackett point side of the course. This put us
first at the windward mark. On the way back into the harbor, we got tangled up
in some Catalinas and Cals, and had to jibe twice to get clear. Towards the
mark, we were in the middle of some J105s that were duelling it out. This was interesting,
but not good for speed. We rounded the mark in a pack, and right behind us, Lin
Gin caught up in clean slice of air unconfused by a herd of 105s with their asyms
up. Going into the harbor, the wind dropped, and it was agonizing. At one point
Lin Gin was way ahead, and Calliope was catching up nicely. .After a few more
tacks I looked up, and Lin Gin was closer, but Calliope was lost in a crowd
somewhere off the Chart House. There was not a chance of catching Lin Gin
especially after I did not listen to the crew. I even ignored my 10 second rule
(when you feel like tacking count to 10). That put us in a position where we
had to pinch to finish. We were given a break by one of the fast boats.
Laughing Gull was on port. I had the tiller over hard, and was not doing
anything there was so little wind - he ducked me on Starboard - which is a good
thing as I was a) in the  way, and b) completely
the burdened boat!

There are three more Wednesday nights left. For those that
might want to consider a night on the water in the middle of the week, contact J
Berquist at jbergqui at gmail.com, he has
a good handle on who is doing what. We often have a spot on Laughing Gull, so
feel free to ping me as well.