2011.07.16 LO300 Race Start

Got up fairly early, showered, had a wonderful breakfast provided free by Sperry.

Then did my race morning ritual: pre race dump in the PCYC clubhouse.
Like previously years, lined up out the door 10 people deep.
Dooty done, paperwork completed, lets race!

We hauled Harvey up the mast to staighten the windex:

We did not have time to perform a pump out, and boats were also rafted up in the pump out area.

BagPipe leaving the channel

Our start was great, we decided to stay away from the windward crowd at the committe boat, in clear air.

Wind from from the SE, about 8-10 knots.

All the way to the first mark of Toronto Island, were were trailing close behind Galaxsea and Wind Dancer

Wind Dancer in our sites!

We went inland towards Ontario Place, and tacked when the wind started getting blanketed by Toronto Island. We were first around Gibraltar mark.

We went out close hauled port tack at 6 knots out into the lake, while the rest of the fleet (Wind Dancer, Galaxsea, Impromptu, and MacIntosh) went inland to pickup shore breezes.  We liked the point of sail, and really couldn't go any faster on the opposite tack.  This move payed off as we saw the fleet slowing down as they went towards shore.

Did a quick internet check on YellowBrick and were were in the lead!  We were about 8 miles offshore, and could only see a couple of larger sailboats ahead of us. YellowBrick tracking was awesome!

Nice sundown

Did another check on YellowBrick at around 10pm, and we were still in the lead with Kalona from Whitby about a mile behind us.  Off to bed.

Woke up just after sunrise, and checked YellowBrick.
Kalona had passed us, and was about 1/2 mile in front.

Dave and Dave said they sailed into a hole in the night, and flogged around for a couple of hours.
Kalona stayed farther out and missed the wind hole.

Wind had swung around to the west, as forcasted and droped down to about 6 knots.  Wing on Wing with poled genoa was very unfortable because of the waves coming from a different direction.  We tried falling off and coming up to a reach, but could not keep pace with Kalona.

Wind picked up to 15 knots as we rounded Scotch Bonnett about a 2 miles behind Kalona.  Waves were 3-5 ft, pounding closed hauled to the south shore.  We were pointing higher than Kalona and slowly gaining ground on them.