Round and Round the County We Go

Saturday was interesting. The first leg of the course from the start to Davidson rocks on the south shore of Lopez was a mess with steady 25kts+ of wind and negative (2kts at times) tide. The new #4 with a reefed main seemed to be a great combination with boat speed averaging in the mid to upper sixes even with BIG waves. Once we rounded Davidson rocks it became a heavy-air reach in BIG waves. We hit a new boat best of 15.4 kts with full main and the #4. Unfortunately, with the course and the wind direction, it made this a non-tactical parade around the south half of the county with the larger boats proving waterline is everything. We did not score well but had enough adrenaline going to party well after the race.

Sunday was a different story. Light broad reaching with spinnaker was the conditions at the start. The J-109 is made for this. With a good start and more boat speed than anyone else we lead the fleet to the NW tip of Stuart where we ventured too close to the island and fell into its shadow where we watched everyone sail around us. It sucks being the marker boat for the first “hole” on the course. Once around the corner, we found the whole fleet struggling on a starboard beat in light-to-zero winds. With 12 miles to go to Patos Island (the halfway point) in 3 hours and no hope in site We withdrew and started the long process of getting the boat and ourselves home.

We got what we came for on Saturday; Sunday was disappointing. Oh well. That IS sailboat racing.

Race Results: 10th