Channing's account ...

I arrived late again and Karl had the boat pretty well organized. I had no time for chit chatting about anything in the morning or even figuring out who was there. By the time we put the boat in the water, everyone else had started sailing out to the course. We finally got out to the ocean against the ripping incoming tide and had a nice spin reach over to the committee boat…hoping we would get there on time.

We checked in and found that five boats were out sailing - Taz (Gary and Helen), Kitty (John and Bill), Bollocks (Geoff and Charlie Jenkins), Roadkill (Mike and Bill Jenkins) and TGIF (Karl and me). Also realized that just three points separated four boats in the FC series with Taz and Kitty in first place and TGIF and Bollocks tied for third.

Race 1 - The conditions were picture perfect San Diego with Blue skies and maybe eight knots of breeze, just enough to use the wire. It seemed like the wind was shifting right as the line was heavily pin end favored by the time the 505 fleet started. The RC set a really long line so it was important to start on the correct side.

With Karl telling me when to turn, we were able to get a good start at the pin in clear air. After about a minute we were able to cross the fleet on port and protect the right. Kitty tacked back to starboard and we decided to cover, leaving Bollocks sailing off to the right. The wind went further right and Bollocks gained big. At the first mark it was TGIF, Bollocks, Kitty, Taz then Kill. Since the windward mark was set really far to the right, it was basically a parade for the next three legs with a downwind finish. With the wind building slightly, Bollocks attempted to wire reach on the second downwind leg - Karl and I kept a close watch on this as we got passed this way at the Nood regatta earlier this year.

Race 2 - same course. The RC shortened and squared the line and moved the windward mark to square up the course a bit. The fleet enjoyed a nice breeze during the pre-start activity and it seemed to die a bit at the start. Again, we started in clear breeze to leeward of the fleet and were able to cross on port to protect the right. We basically covered Bollocks in second place and held on to the lead. We enjoyed a photo finish between TAZ and Kitty watching them both surfing towards the line. Each had big gains on the waves. Kitty held on to protect the lead. Finish order the same as race 1.

Race 3 -- We had a nice long break waiting for the laser fleet to finish and the RC set a short course for the final race of the day. We were over early at the pin and had to gybe around the pin and take some transoms as we headed right. Surprisingly, the fleet continued left (did not cover) and we were able to catch up rounding ahead at the mark. I think there were some other private battles going on. Kitty was trying to be TAZ to take the FC points lead and Geoff was making sure he stayed ahead of Kitty and Taz and ... It was TGIF, Bollocks, Kitty, TAZ and Roadkill at the windward mark with minimal passing opportunities downwind as the course favored the starboard gybe. The wind had built a bit more during this race and we were able to catch some waves for a few bursts of speed….

We enjoyed a beer sailing in and a few more in the parking lot at the club - thanks to Gary and John for the pitchers and John for the portable bar from Home Depot. We did not spend time doing a formal debrief - we should start doing this more often. I learn something each time.

We were set up with Rake at 25.8 and moved the ram from 1.5 to 2.5 as the breeze built during the day. We re-set the shroud tension at the beginning of each beat and constantly worked jib sheet and vang tension to keep the leach tales flying 90% of the time. Downwind, we sailed pretty deep but we would heat up a little for speed and turn down in puffs and for waves.

Channing Hamlet, USA 8024

 

Geoff's Account ...

It happened just like you said ... start, go right, turn around, repeat.

Even a tactical dunder-head like me could figure out that one. The only  really fun angle was the really short port jibe to the leeward mark lined up on the waves really well for surfing. Too bad it was only 10 yards long! Charlie and I needed about another 1/4 mile of course to catch up with TGIF on the beats.

I think Channings title of "Foot Meister" really helped in the chop though. The disparity between the cored and uncored boats was most pronounced in the ocean as well. The funnest part of the race was when we resorted to wire running because we were bored on the tanks and could not catch Channing and Kitty was too far behind to pass us.

Here are unofficial results as I have them in my head: TGIF= 1,1,1 Bollocks!= 2,2,2 Kitty= 3,3,3 Taz= 4,4,5 RoadKill= 5,5,4 Unofficial Fleet Championship standings: Kitty=13 Taz=14 TGIF=14 Bollocks=15 Not much changed in the order of the standings but they all got VERY compressed... I knew it was going to be a tight season this year but I would not have thought that close.

So- was all that big talk in the parking lot afterwards talk or will it be the walk? Are we having a single-handed championship on Thursday? Bollocks!, Kitty, Fever, Taz and Road Kill... all on the line and all single-handing? Will TGIF unfetter himself from the hassles of crew for one race as well? Did we all agree that one wire run with the kite up was required as well? Cheers,

Geoff, Bollocks