Final Tuesday race in Newcastle: Neil, Peter, and I.
WindS were blowing 15 knots with gusts over 20 from the NW, so course was 6 legs (N-W-S-N-W-S-N).
We spent some time at the dock tightening stays,and hooking up reefing lines in the main.
We went out with just main to get a feel for the wind/waves/puffs. We were NOT being overpowed, but were watching our competition Wind Dancer and Cajun with reefs in their mains and furled genoas, so we decided to go with the #2 (135%) vs the #1 (155%). PERFECT amount of sail. We were able to drop the traveller on the main in the puffs and keep the boat on its feet.
Wind Dancer pulled ahead right from the start, but we kept with them.
We were done the first three legs in 28 minutes.
On the 3rd leg, the bolt holding the tiller on the rudder managed to spin off and we lost control of the rudder. We quickly balanced the sails so the rudder was not required, and had to use a set of vice grips on the bolt and lash it to the rudder with some line. We lost a bit of time, but kept our boat speed close the 6 knots the entire time.
After the 2nd upwind leg, the winds were diminishing, so we did a sail change to the #1. Took a couple on minutes, and we lost 1 knot of speed while we dropped the #2, hanked on the #1, and hoisted it. It was done quickly and smoothly.
We finished well back of Wind Dancer, but were proud of how we sailed.
Trip Odometer: 10.2 miles
Moving Avg: 6.1 knots
Moving Time: 02:03:04
Google Earth Track: https://dl.dropbox.com/u/12535935/Still%20Time/2012/20120828.kmz
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