Crew: Brian, Seth, Bob & RW
Winds: NNW 4 to 8, gust 12
Temp: 52 F, Baro: 29.80
Weather: overcast with occasional light drizzle
Current: ebb - North Hill 1542
Start time: 1800, 02:15 into ebb
Start/Finish: just North of N. Dumpling
Course: s/f –D/M-s/f *2; 018 @ .75 nm; Distance: 3.0 nm
Shrouds: at base
We’ve had a big shake-up in classes this year, due largely to lesser numbers. Past years’ Classes 1 & 2 have been combined. So we’re racing against the J22/J24 group, and Salud, a Pearson 30 from the previous Class 3. There is little resemblance to last year’s scratch sheet, only 5 classes compared to 6 & 7 of the past with eleven boats in our Class 1.
Motoring out, we spotted the RC off shore of North Dumpling with a line setup for what appeared to be a downwind start. Arriving at the committee boat and noting the posted course, we realized the line unconventional; the pin to starboard and the course would be northerly towards a windward mark up in Mumford Cove. We planned our start; up current near the RC where there appeared to be as bit more wind relative to the pin end. We should have noted also that the rain showers off to the NW tracking SSE would continue to favor the left side of the course.
We got an average start off Cosmic’s stern as they called starboard on Watercolors coming in on port. Watercolors tacked to Cosmic’s lee as we followed both off the line, Cosmic leading. Feeling the effect of bad air off both boats, we discussed a tack, but only a short one for a clear lane. Watercolors tacked first, so we continued till well clear of her stern before tacking and subsequently make our fatal mistake of the evening. Rather than tacking back to favor the left, I continued on port as did Watercolors sailing out of the subtle fresher breeze. This put us down current in little wind for a slow return on starboard at 1813.
Eventually we made the windward mark (overstanding some in the light air) and had a good set and stayed high in the light air to avoid being sweep down below the mark.
Following the douse & rounding, a fresh gusty NW breeze arrived from the showers passing off to the west. The second upwind took eighteen minutes versus our first at thirty. Our last downwind took less than 10 minutes as opposed to the 13 on the first lap.
Link to Chart