Took the afternoon off to sail the j/30 down from Westport Connecticut to Raritan Yacht Club with Jerry.
Incredible trip. About 9.5 hours, six bridges, and almost 11 knots over the ground at Hell Gate. Hey, is that the UN? Hey, is that the Statue of Liberty?
Flew back east to race with Jerry on Bengt Johansson’s j/30 “Fuzzy Wuzzy” in the Cedar Point One Design regatta in Westport Connecticut.
This regatta was the east coast regional championships, with 5 races over 2 days. We had a great weekend of sailing, and won the event with (3), 1, 1, 2, 1.
Their program was really well put together and very “pro” on the course. As Jerry pointed out, it was 5 skippers out of a crew of 7. At first that seems like a recipe for conflicting opinions and chatter, but in reality, there was virtually no talk amongst the crew between the warning gun and the finish line.
The 4th race had the most exciting finish of my racing career. We were putting a lot of pressure on the #2 boat about two lengths before the finish line—very close racing in 30-footers—and they mistakenly luffed us up too far. Bam, a tight gybe behind them, maybe a handswidth between our bow and their stern, and then all of a sudden, we are over the line. Absolutely unbeliveable tactics—total “psychological” sailing.
Here’s hoping I can make it back for the NA’s.
credit: photoboat
I’m flying back east for the j/30 regionals in conneticut this weekend. Something that’s always an annoying source of stress is whether an over-zealous TSA screener will impound my spinlock harness because of the compressed CO2 cartridge. Which, considering that they confiscate chapstick that’s not confined to a ziplock bag, is a legitimate concern.
What I usually do is print out a copy of the CFRs with the appropriate exception (that an inflatable PFD is allowed by the FAA) and tape it to the harness. It seems to me that the subspecies of Pettious Athoritorio in question might respect this type of talisman of higher regulatory authority.
Here’s the relevant CFR (49 C.F.R. § 175.10 (25)), and here’s an easy-to-understand PDF.
Raced the Single-handed Sailing Society Corinthian In-The-Bay Race. Bob and I raced it double-handed. Shanti had great boat speed, we were passing folks all day.
Prelimary results say that we got 5th in the 13 boat PHRF 100-160 double-handed class.
Also, got a good photo in the latitude article (we are sail #326, left side of photo) that captures the general chaos at Pt. Blunt. The nice thing about this photo is that it appears that boats all around us were wiping out while we cruised through with white knuckles and a full chute. Actually, that is pretty much how it was.
The article mentions that about 60% of the fleet went through Racoon Straits and got a great boost to the mark. We were in the other 40%. Luckily, we stayed so close to the fleet all day that the 5 minutes we lost with that tactic only cost us one place.
Delivered Charisma back to Berkeley from Santa Barbara over the Memorial Day weekend.
Once-in-a-lifetime weather (which hosed the Spinnaker Cup over the weekend). Tons of wildlife.
Read about it on Bob and Shana’s blog.
Just like the Coastal Cup, but not carrying a spinnaker around Point Conception equals “less terror”.
Somewhere to the west of California
Plus two and a half days kicking it on Santa Cruz Island that was just incredible. This was better than BVI. Seriously.
Fry’s Harbor.
Actually, nevermind. It was awful. Don’t go. With all due respect to one of the most overrated bars in SF: Warm Beer, Cold Women, Stay Away.
Read about it on the Charisma Blog
Raced Vallejo with j/105 Racer X (foredeck, as usual). Great sailing. Got a 2nd (day one) and a 3rd (day two). Day one ended with a tight reaching spinnaker duel up the Napa River mouth, and day 2 was an absolute soaking wet washing machine ride (with no chute needed).
credit: lyonsimaging.com
Raced J/Fest as foredeck with j/105 “Racer X” (USA 375, red chute). 50 different j boats, five races over the two day period, light on day one, light-ish on day two. 9th out of 28 J/105s. Good racing.
credit: lyonsimaging.com
Joined SFYC as a regular member. Great club with a great racing tradition, great sailors, and great facilities.
