First Wednesday night race for 2014.
Winds were forecast for 2-5 knots from north, with a chance of thunderstorms after 8pm.
Melissa, John, and I.
Setup the new #1 and the racing main.
Going out the of the slip, the motor stalled and we had to fend off of other boats on dock 7.
Could not get it started again. John had moved the fuel shut off to off. Another thing to add to our check list!
Not much wind and we got to practice with the new headsail. Got the boat moving very well in the little bit of wind and occasional puff.
The skies opened up just before the first start. HUGE drops of rain. It let up after a while.
The race committee boat messed up the start sequence and half of the fleet was over the line early, causing a general recall. Apparently they were having trouble with the gun.
By then the wind had shifted from the north to the south east, so the committee boat had to reset the course. Before the could, the skies opened up worst than before. Lightning bolts to the south and major gusts of wind. The race was called.
The main VHF radio is not working on the boat, so we were using a handheld. The unit loses volume when it gets wet, so we missed that the race was called, and thought we had missed our start. Then we saw Tanker Jones start their motor and hoist their anchor.
In the gusts, we lost our class flag from the backstay.
I wanted to go back and get it, but it was too windy to risk it.
There were also lightning bolts in the south.
John was amazed with the new balanced rudder. Even in the gusts, there was NOT a lot of force on the tiller. Easier to control.
Coming back near the harbour we got a gust front coming from the SE at 40 knots. HAD TO GET THE SAILS DOWN. I went forward and crumpled up the headsail wrapping it up with the sheets to the bow pulpit. Got the motor started, and Melissa and I dropped the mainsail main sail, rolled it up and put it in the cabin.
All of us were drenched!
Coming into our slip, there were lightning bolts all around us!
Funniest quote in the bar afterwards:
"Good thing you guys went out racing tonight...
...because it was raining like hell at the clubhouse!"
Tom Sharp
Trip Odometer: 8.01 miles
Moving Average: 3.9 knots
Max Speed: 7.3 knots
Moving Time: 02:03:00
Google Earth Track: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/12535935/Still%20Time/2014/20140514.kmz
I felt dumb heading out with a reefed main and 110 in no wind, but that storm front was ominous - when it hit, I was glad we had so little sail up!
ReplyDeleteI guess we could say that we tied for first!
ReplyDelete