Susan Hood Trophy Race on Coug

The Susan Hood is the first long distance race of the season. 
http://pcyc.net/on-water-activities/susan-hood-trophy-race

It was to start on Friday June 1st at 8pm, but a major storm was coming though the day before with winds in the 35 knot range with gusts over 40.  The Ajax weather bouy was registering 26 knots with gusts over 40 and over 10 foot waves.  Plus they were forcasting heavy rains (10mm an hour).

Most boats come from around the lake for the race, and getting out of the home ports and into the narrow channel at PCYC was a problem,  so the race committed wisely decided to postpone the race until Saturday at 11am.  They also shortened the race to 40 miles (PCYC to Burlington and back).

Mark and I left from Whitby a little before 8am in the land yacht (van) to be at PCYC for the skipper's meeting.  Dick and Cos left CBYC on Coug at 5:30am.  Mike left on his boat single handed at the same time.  Mike is racing Impromptu on the Sunday is the first LOSHRS (Lake Ontario Short Handed Racing Series).  We found out later that his engine was overheating because he was pushing it hard to get there on time.

The winds were 15 knots from the SW, right on the nose for these two boats to get to the PCYC.  Under sail, tacking upwind would have taken most of the day because of the wind and waves, so they were motoring.  Coug got the PCYC at 10:30am, so we quickly loaded her with gear, and set out to the race course.  We got to the line and started;  Mike was just coming to Port Credit in Impromptu.

We had a good start in clear air under full main and #3.  Winds were in the 20 knot range with the occasional gust over 30.  Waves got bigger the further we went offshore.  As we got within a couple miles of the Burlington weather mark, the winds were lightening, so we did a sail change from the #3 to the #2.  As we got close to the mark, we had wind shifts of 45 degress with gusts in the mid 30s.  We did an unexpected 360 in one of the puffs with Cos and I were on deck getting the spinnaker ready to deploy.

Downwind back to PCYC under spinnaker was much easier, regularly doing over 9 knots with several gybes.  The rain held off until we were at the finish line, and didn't last too long.

Trip Odometer: 49.36 miles
Moving Avg: 6.9 knots
Moving Time: 07:07:02

NOTE: this is from the dock at PCYC

Google Earth track: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/12535935/Still%20Time/2012/20120602.kmz

Results posted: http://www.yachtscoring.com/event_results_cumulative.cfm?eID=573

We finished 8th of 65 boats in the PHRF fleet in corrected time.
There were only two boats in the fleet who beat us across the line.  The McConaghy 38 (6th overall) and a Sabre 387 TM.  We were within 100 yards of the Sabre all the way from the Burlington Mark, and could NOT catch them until the finish (they started 5 minutes after us).  They sailed a really great race and deserved to win 1st overall.

Congratulations to all of Coug's crew.  You came second in the division and were only 61 seconds behind Carbonado.  To put this in perspective.....Carbonado is a brand new half million dollar all carbon fibre boat sailed by mostly professionals.  Coug is a thoroughbred with great history and and a great future sailed by an awesome crew.   Good job to all.

Michael