2002 Fleet 3 Championship, Part IV

Team TGIF (8024)

Sunday, August 25, 2002

MBYC August Triangles

The day started with a decent westerly breeze of about 6-8 knots, and it would continue to build all day to provide some nice full-trapping conditions after lunch. The RC showed course 1 with two laps, and the start saw TGIF at the pin end of the line, but looking to go right. Fever was close enough to us that we didn't want to chance having to duck, and so we let them take us out towards the left corner (despite encouraging them to tack), and when we converged with the lead boat on the right (Kitty), we were glad we stayed on the left, our lead was considerable. We rounded the weather mark first, and when we were sure we were well clear of Fever we started looking for the leeward mark. Course 1 is a mid-line course, so the mark should have been to leeward of the start/finish line. There was no mark. With a nice lead we decided be conservative and we left both the pin end of the start/finish line and mark 6 to port, and headed back upwind. We held our lead and then rounded the weather mark, again looking for a leeward mark. This time there was one (it sure didn't seem to be there before), but it was in the wrong place, to weather of the start/finish! Oh well, so we ignored it, and rounded the pin end of the start/finish line, but got no signal from the RC. As we sailed over to the committee boat to ask what the heck was going on, we saw other 505s round the leeward mark and head back to weather, about the same time we heard from the RC that the finish was at the weather mark. We chased down Fever and Dave and took 3rd. Kitty retired with an exploded mainsheet cover.

I calmly explained to the RC that they ran a different course than they signalled, and they quickly acknowledged the error. Perhaps my less than diplomatic tone accounted for the 505 fleet starting after about 3 other slower fleets in race 2.

For race 2, we had an unambiguous course, a leeward mark, and more breeze than race 1. We led around the first 3 marks, and then lost Fever with a bad douse on the second run. We were stuck below them on port tack and decided to take their transom and break for the left side. We tacked just as Bill was climbing out on the wire, which gave us a chance at clear air. Amazingly, Fever decided not to cover (no one else was close), and we gained enough to beat them by a length or two giving us our first victory of the day.

Lunch was excellent - and we were able to help John jury-rig a working mainsheet so he could take Teresa (Chris Shand's sister) out for the afternoon.

We won the start in race 3 and never trailed. The RC gave us some reaching legs, and with the freshening breeze they proved to be a lot of fun. The reach to the leeward mark was a tight one, and being able to work the kite all the way to the mark seemed to be a huge differentiator in the afternoon races. We grabbed another first. After we finished, when we could finally look back, we saw Freebee steaming towards the downwind finish, with CB, Kitty and White Trash trailing her.

Races 4 and 5 were more of the same, with the same course and slightly more breeze. The final reach of the day was a blast, Karl was working the kite very well and we sailed the leg in probably less than 30 seconds. Two more firsts.

Thanks to all for coming out on such a beautiful day. Results, along with the high point standings can be found at http://www.sandiego505.com/championship.htm

Lame Excuses