Crew: Brian, Seth, Bob & RW
Winds:  ESE @ 2.5 kts, peak 4.5, low .7 kts
Weather:  Clear, Temp 71 F; Baro 29.85
Current: ebb - flood to begin at 1831 Ram Island, 1856 North Hill
Start time: 1835, slight ebb to slack in stating area
Start/Finish: offshore of GLP Starting Area
Course: s/f–DM–s/f; Distance: 110 at  .75 nm, one lap, 1.5 total
Shrouds: Base

After a half hour delay, our start gun fired at 1835. I chose for to favor wind over current, as there was a very promising patch of wind between the GLP buoys, with the optimistic thought- it might fill in from that direction and in spite of port tack being heavily favored and a slight current to shove us towards the mark.  So we continued to Groton Point for a series of tacks between to GLP buoys, which worked relatively well. 
Lesson: Start on the favored tack & go with the current.

 After clearing GLP R”22”, we made our second and fatal mistake, tacking again to starboard, abeam the current where it was ripping for a fickle wind band. This set us backwards significantly.  And had we not done this, may have pulled out a finish.
Lesson: Don't tack abeam to current unless forced to.

After dillydallying for another forty-five minutes, we finally threw in the towel and withdrew ove the radio. Had we hung in another five to ten minutes, we would have got a finish from the RC and received 6 points (sixth place) rather than the 10 points for a DNF. There are only three races remaining. If with the wind holds for all & we do reasonably well, this can be one of our throw-outs. 
Lesson: Patience!

Breaking-Wind had their best race of the season staying offshore. Draggin-Z actually won. They had strayed too far east of the starting area & took a RAF, for having their motor running after the five-minute warning.  

Link to chart

Addendum: Now that the results are published, it appears our choice of GLP may have been correct. noting how well the Class Two boats "Ursa Minor"  & "Looney Tunes" faired going in there. Had we not tacked back in after passing GLP R"22" ???

Crew: Brian, Bob & RW
Winds: SW, 4 to 5 at the start, 8-12 kts, gusts 15 (1^st lap avg 10 kts);
Second lap avg: 4 kts, early 11,
Weather: Clear, Temp 71 F; Baro 29.83
Current: ebb - begin at 1806 North Hill
Start time: 1800
Start/Finish: GLP s/f & Silver Eel
Course: s/f–DM–s/f-E;
Distance: 248 at 1.2, plus 215 at 2.75 to E
Total 5.15 nm
Shrouds: +2,+0,+2; +2,+3,+2; 0,0,0 

It was just Brian, Bob & I, as Seth & Megan are spending the week on the Jersey Shore. We had an excellent start (in a five knot breeze) all alone near the pin, with the class consuming the upper half of the line near the committee boat. 

As we continued out on starboard the wind gradually freshened and headed.  Tacking, we found ourselves nearly laying the mark.  Wunderdog crossed close ahead on, then tacking to starboard pulled away as Draggin-Z passed closer to windward.  Though concerned with the lack of clear air, I decided to hang in rather than waste time on two tacks. As a result we lost some distance & gauge (also increased our layline).  

Wunderdog & Draggin-Z rounded first, followed by Cosmic. As I began to bear off for mark, Clockwork tacked right in front of us. I luffed-up, cleared his stern and came above, with them between us and the mark as we rounded. Salud rounded slightly behind was able to pull away (larger chute) to leeward. Clockwork had some trouble with their set, so we pulled half a boatlength ahead to windward and stayed that way to the leeward mark. Halfway down the run, the RC announced a course change to Silver Eel for the next lap. The leaders arrived and escaped prior to the larger boats converging. We were not so lucky. Shorthanded, we opted for a conservative douse following Clockwork overlapped inside around the mark, in the company of two or three other boats (Leda, Crystal, etc.)

Back on starboard as first opportunity, we elected to pass west of the Dumplings fearing the current stronger between the islands.  On our second starboard just northwest of N. Dumpling, the wind began its demise. Committed now, we began our shift to light air mode, eventually setting the reacher just past North Hill; switching back the to the genoa five to ten minutes short of the finish.

Link to chart (landscape)
Link to chart (portrait)

Crew: Brian, Seth, Bob & RW
Winds: SW, 2-15 kts, gust 16-17
Weather: Clear, Temp 71 F; Baro 29.94
Current: ebb - flood to begin at 1915 North Hill
Start time: 1810, 05:00 into ebb
Start/Finish: GLP Starting Area
Course: s/f–D–s/f; Distance: 245 at 3.95 nm, one lap, 7.9 total
Shrouds: +3,+6,+4, 

We were late arriving and Bob was still stowing the outboard at the five-minute gun. I wished to start near the pin and tack to port at the first opportunity.  Misjudging the current push, we arrived at the pin early with just enough speed to weather it (by inches) as “Draggin-Z-Balls rolled us. Once up to speed we tacked and crossed a number of boats starting near the committee boat.

The wind opposing the current made for some rough sailing on port, with an occasional burying of the bow much to the displeasure of the crew.  Southings on starboard were somewhat smoother. 

The rounding at the dumping ground was crowded with a handful of boats on starboard not making the mark and having to tack again just short of it.  Approaching on port gave us a short layline with minimal overstand and rights over those having to tack again to round.  It made for a late set, but took us clear of the mêlée in short order.

The 38 minute, four mile run to the finish was a welcome break from the punishing hour & seven-minute beat, requiring the most from Bob on the spinnaker sheet.

We ended up with first both with & w/o the summer penalties, & 8^th in fleet.