Wednesday Night - 06/11/08

Mudheads WNR 2008

Crew: Brian, Seth, & RW
Current: ebb - North Hill 1808
Winds: SW 250 at 8 to 11 kts
Start/Finish: between GLP & Horseshoe
Course: s/f- DM -s/f * 2, Distance: 4.0 nm
Shrouds: base +1, +2, +1

An early ebb was evident on the motor out to the start area due to the strong southwester I imagine.

We were off the line with a decent start and continued out a good distance feeling the wind better offshore, and with the thought of avoiding a possible stronger (new) nearer shore. We tacked to port and crossed north of Seaflower.  Short of what we thought was the layline, Watercolors crossed us a half-boat length ahead.  Looking back on it we should have tacked a moment or two later as I believe they may have been on the layline.

Wednesday - 05/28/08

Mudheads WNR 2008

Crew: Brian, Seth, Bob & RW
Current: ebb - Ram Island 1755
Winds: SW 250 at 8 to 11 kts
Start/Finish: between GLP & Horseshoe
Course: s/f- B(Black Ledge) -s/f, Distance: 4.45 nm

Not till late in the afternoon a little past four did the wind shift out of the north and northwest to west.  As we motored out it had shifted slightly SW at around 10 knots.

Contrary to Eldridge, the ebb was a half-hour early as we passed Groton Long Point on the way out.

Wednesday - 05/21/08

RMagner Mudheads WNR 2008
Wednesday Night - 052108
Crew: Brian, Seth, Bob & RW
Current: Flood - Ram Island 1840
Winds: SW 220 at 9 to 14 kts
Start/Finish: between GLP & Horseshoe
Course: s/f-N-I-N-s/f , Distance: 7.0 nm

It was late morning by the time I arrived at the boat, having stopped by Defender on the drive down for some supplies. By mid-afternoon the winds picked up into the high teens with gusts to 25 according to GON's ATIS.  I began to wonder if we might get more than we bargained in our first race of the season.

 Motoring out at 1730 in a chilly breeze of 10 to 12 knots, we all donned jackets and hoped the reported rain would stay ashore.  With a half hour of ebb remaining, I elected to start at the committee boat with a tack to port once we were clear, thinking we may get lifted slightly by the current. In retrospect, I believe we may have had more current on our nose than on our lee. Noo Problem over early, re-crossed on port near the RC and hung on till short of Seaflower.  The remainder of the class went left on starboard and all of them appeared to eventually approach North Hill through the Dumplings.