2011.09.25 Newcastle on Santeria

Newcastle with Neil, Peter, and me on Santeria.  Santeria is tied point wize for overall with Wind Dancer; we would have to beat them in corrected time in the final race of the season to win it.

Winds were SE 8-12 knots, course was N-E-W-E-N (about 6 mile course).  We got out about half an hour early and were able to practice our start, and tacking.  Peter and I worked out a way on a tack for one of us to roll under the boom accross the deck with the lazy sheet, and tail it from the high side, while the other winched in from the pit.  Worked really well!  BTW, Santeria's winches are all on the cabintop.

Great start, and we just beat Wind Dancer to the first mark.  We pulled ahead on the 2 mile downwind broad reach to the west mark.  We sailed the layline with the genoa poled out to windward.  We stayed in front of Wind Dancer and Cajun for the rest of the race.  Great sailing!  Approching the East mark, we tacked early to avoid another sailboat that was out for a pleasure sail through the race course, even though we were on a starboard tack.  I think this boat really messed up Kevin (think he had to delay his tack to avoid them).

What are great way to end the racing season.  We took line honours.

Boat Name	Adjusted hh:mm:ss
Santaria	1:22:52
Wind Dancer	1:28:43
Patricia	1:32:08
Cajun	1:34:35
Silhouette	1:41:02

Neil sent me the track from his GPS, and for the race we sailed 7.68 miles in 01:29:00.

After the race, we sailed out enough to set a spinnaker for a pleasure sail back to the East.  Had to gybe a couple of times. We had Santeria at 6.5 knots most of the time.  I worked the bow, Peter drove, and Neil worked the pit.

It is amazing how much I have learned this year.   Last year, I had no idea how to setup, fly, or pack a spinnaker, let alone do end-for-end gybes.  I think Neil enjoyed flying a chute having some else to set it up and fly it.

Cheers, thanks gentlemen!  It has been a pleasure sailing with you.

Trip Odometer: 18.80 miles
Moving Avg: 4.9 knots
Moving Time: 04:38:24

Google Earth track: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/12535935/Still%20Time/20110925.kmz

Turns out Santeria won the Tue/Sun series (best 11 of 21), but the overall also counts the best 2 of 3 of the Cup races, of which Santeria only competed in one of them (and won it!).  Congratulations Wind Dancer.