Windfinder was predicting 11 knots (gusts to 32) with isolated thunderstorms. The thunderstorms happened in the late afternoon, so the race was good to go.
Neil, Peter, and I, course was N-W-S-N-E-N.
We first thought full main and the #1, and ride out the gusts, needed the sail area for the downwind legs. However, once we got out we found it unmanageable, so we swapped out the hanked on #1 for the #3; much better. The 10 year old Kevlar main can't be reefed.
Start was good, and were 1/4 mile behind Wind Dancer to the first mark. We gybed around the windward mark, bringing the mainsheet in. As the boom came accross, we got hit with a 30+ knot gust and tore the main from luff to leach about 1/3 way up the mast. The three of us sprung into action, taking the blown main off, hoisting the old dacron main, while maintaining 5.5 knots of boat speed with just the #3. We had really good communication and problem solving getting the swap done in less than 5 mins. The dacron main is smaller and a little bagged out, but worked.
It was a wild ride, having to constantly feather the main in the gusts. According to the GPS, we averaged 6.7 knots for the entire track!
Trip Odometer: 15.30 miles
Moving Avg: 6.7 knots
Moving Time: 02:31:31
Google Earth track: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/12535935/Still%20Time/2012/20120612.kmz
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