MRMSA Wed Night Summer Series - Race 6

Date: 08/21/2002 Log Entry: Race
Distance: 4.0 Weather: SW 0-7 kts Current: flood 1643 Ram
Course: s/f-N-s/f (p) Crew: Brian, Bob, Tracy & RW

MRMSA Wed Night Summer Series - Race 6

 

The evening started off in a festive mood when Tomahawk arrived at the starting area flying a dozen or so balloons "It's a girl" in celebration of helmsman Woody Bergendahl's new daughter.  Tomahawk just returned from the J29 North Americans, where they finished 5th after eight races, a busy week for the Bergendahls & Lockwoods.

 

After removing the outboard, Bob and Brian quickly reverted to the light genoa sheets.

In the extremely light air start, we somehow managed to stay to out of others exhaust and avoid being swept over the line by the current. The boats either side (Hellfire & MiniMaxie) of us were called over early and had to return. We soon bailed out to port for greater clearance to windward, which I mistakenly held too long before noticing greater wind on the left side of the course.  As we sailed back across on starboard, we could see a number of boats (Gael Force, Blue Light Special, Hellfire and others) in the far-left corner as they arrived at a wind band stretching to the windward mark.  The trick was to go left towards wind band near the Flat Hammock Can "1". It appeared Blue Light and Gael Force were having a private race.  Unfortunately, they were able to cross us before we got to the band.  

 

One more series of tacks to clear ND got us through the Dumplings with the current.  Careful not to overstand the North Hill Nun in the favorable current, we laid the line on starboard and Brian set the pole. As Bob cranked back the guy and Tracy began to feed out the spinnaker we noticed a big snafu with the sheets. All three quickly attacked the problem resolving it in time for the rounding.  Problem- when attaching the sheets to the spinnaker, they were not routed over and clear of the genoa sheets.

 

Sassy Lassie, Gael Force, BlueLight Special and Tumult rounded before us, with Sanibel trailing somewhat behind for some reason.  We took a high reach between South Dumpling and Fishers favoring the shallow water of South Dumpling and Flat Hammock for current relief

 

Crossing the point, we bore off for the shallow water along the east side of Flat Hammock. Nearing the nun we then freshened up towards the Can "1".  We did not get quite as much boost off Flat Hammock in the shallow water as on July 24th and August 7th when the east wind caused a stronger flood. I believe it was still the hot way to go though, as the boats passing through the Dumplings seems to be at a stand still.  

 

Spinnaker Trim comments: The foot should never be drawn tight. If you see it tight the sheet either needs to be eased of the pole should go forward.  Likewise the foot should hardly ever touch the forestay, and requires the same corrective measures.

 

In retrospect, I should have chosen a hotter angle towards to Can "1". We delayed the jibe, concerned that doing so too soon would cause us to be swept past the finish and be faced with the difficulty of running directly downwind against the current in light air.  

Here Sanibel, taking a similar course caught and passed us about a ¼ mile from the finish. Finishing just 39 seconds behind Sanibel, we crossed in ahead of G.F., BLS and Tumult all us with in a minute, 7-second spread, with SeTherin correcting to first. 

Thanks again to Dennis for use of his trusty outboard.

 

Spinnaker                                          Time on Time

Yacht              Type                  Skipper, PHRF Elapsed Corrected

 

1 SeTherin         Catalina 22 Magner,273  85.52 67.54

 

2 SassyLassie Newport 28 Burnham,162  75.70 69.11

 

3 Blue Lite         Cal 25         Giulini, 225  85.80 71.96

 

4 Gael Force C&C 24          Harren, 218  85.73 72.56

 

5 Tumult         Ericson 30-1 Litke, 215  85.98 73.05

 

6 GoodGoose PearsonTriton Richardson,249  90.02 73.23

 

7 Sanibel         Pearson         Keeler,199  84.87 73.65

 

8 RaggedyAnn Ericson 25 Bonola,234  95.20 78.93

 

9 Nell                 Bristol 32   Gleason,247 DNS