Our IRC certificate limits the number of crew to 8
- me (jib)
- Kris (driver)
- Michael Ahearn (pit)
- Jenny unners and spin trim)
- Peter (jib)
- Tom (tactician)
- Andrew (bow)
- Don [Andrew's Dad] (main)
Winds were forecast for 10-15 from the SE all weekend.
We were put in the IRC 1 fleet with the big boys, Farr 40, Beneteau First 40.7, C&C 115s, etc. The only boat we gave time to was Xoomer Express from NYC (X-35).
Day 1 we went with the #1 and racing main. We did really well upwind, keeping close to the Farr 40 and others. However, downwind with a fractional chute, we sufferred and lost ground. We were sailing the boat above its polars for the wind speed and angle, but not enough wind to make up the difference in sail area downwind.
On our first downwind leg of the first race, we forgot to attach the clew of the spinnaker on the hoist, and ended up ripping the bottom panel on our biggest spinnaker. It was still usuable, but will have to have a panel replaced.
We came 6th of 7 boats after three races.
We all agreed that this is best we have had the boat moving.
The Saturday party was FUN.
ACE in Hole went down all too quickly.
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| Tom putting our class flag on the backstay |
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| View from ACE at sunset |
Day 2 was another beautiful day with winds 15-20 from the SE. We went with the #2 and full main, along with the smaller red chute.
We did really well in the first race, coming in 5th place.
We had lots of mistakes in the next race and came in last.
For the last race of the day/regatta, we decided to switch up roles.
- Me (driver)
- Kris (runners)
- Jenny (runners)
- Poter (jib)
- Andrew (main)
- Tom (bow)
- Don (jib)
- Mike (pit)
I have to admit that I was a little nervous driving ACE in a racing situation. The boat was balanced and was a dream to be on the tiller. Any weather helm was corrected right away with the traveller. Tacks were quick and fast with the #2 jib.
It is amazing being on the tiller when the boat finds its groove. Coming out of a tack, the boat just accelerates as the crew slowly brings the jib in. You watch the speed climb up to 6 knots, as the jib is trimmed right in, and the boat jumped to over 7 knots on our first upwind leg.
We were in a tacking duel upwind with Maggie Kelly a green Beneteau First 40.7. On the first cross, we were well behind them. On the next cross, I had to fall off slightly to duck them, and missed their transom by THREE feet! We were the starboard boat!
At the windward mark, we got inside of the C&C 115 at the mark with overlap and quickly tacked toward the mark. I was concentrating too much on the C&C 155 off our stern, and not with the mark. We ended up touching the mark, and had to do a penalty turn, so the C&C 115 pulled ahead off us. It is amazing how quickly ACE turns; she will spin on her axis very quickly, so we only lost about 2 boatlengths.
On the 2nd spin hoist, the red chute got caught in the hatch, and ripped; another repair to be done.
At the end of the day we finished 6th of the 7 boats in our class.
Another IRC regatta behind us. The boat is getting faster and faster each time out.
We left ACE on the visitor's wall for delivery back to National on Monday.
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