We were up slightly after 7am, and had a nice breakfast of bacon and hard boiled eggs, and yummy Dutch cheese.
We called a cab for 10am, as we had to be in Phillipsburg by 11:30am to do a sailing experience
https://www.12metre.com/
We got dropped off at Dock Maarten Marina and had about an hour to kill.
There was a excellent Dutch shoppe there:
amsterdam-cheese-and-liquor-store
We got a bunch more Gouda cheese for the coming week.
We went over to the 12 Metre regatta store and bought a bunch of merch.
I got a really nice pair of blue sailing shorts and a crew T-Shirt.
Rita got a really nice sleeveless golf shirt.
We boarded a 40ft pontoon boat with about 12 other people, and motored over to the docks where the two LARGE cruise ships were docked. Another 20+ people go on.
We asked to be on Canada's True North IV (vs Stars and Stripes).
I was made crew chief (probably because I had my red Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race hat on).
The six of us were the only Canadians aboard.
Interesting story/history on True North IV:
https://www.12metre.com/yacht/true-north-iv-kc-iv/
We had commissioned Steve Killing to design our replacement mast on ACE in 2018.
We went out into the harbour, and pulled up alongside our 12 Metre yacht True North IV.
The previous victims/crews unloaded, and we boarded.
Captain Morgan (that was his name!) delegated out the various duties on the boat:
Running backstays (2)
Mainsheet trimmer
Mainsheet grinders (2)
Primary grinders (4)
Countdown timer
Hans was the countdown timer
Rita/Debbie were on watch by the mainsheet.
Don, Judy and I (along with another American) were the primary grinders.
The winches were bigger than our heads, and had 3 speeds.
The two crew members did all the jib sheets and called for us to grind.
We weren't allow to touch the sheets.
The lady on the mainsheet had NO IDEA what she was doing.
We had a couple of crashing gybes. where she let the mainsheet go!
It was blowing maybe 20 knots from the north from onshore so the sea state was not bad.
The two boats had a reefed main and a conservative #3 roller furling jib.
We got the boat going 9+ knots upwind closehauled.
Heeled over pretty good, but rails NOT in the water.
 |
| Captain Morgan at the helm |
Hans is just beside Rita, while Debbie is opposite her.
The race was four windward/leeward legs in Phillipsburg harbour.
We trailed Stars and Stripes for the first 3 legs doing several crosses just off their transom.
On the first downwind leg a storm cloud came through and we had wind gusts over 30 knots, and all got completely drenched!
I convinced Captain Morgan to go right instead of left at the last leeward mark because their was more wind inshore. At this point, I had to give a inspirational speech to the crew. I forgot what I said, but we all chanted "We The North" in honour of the Raptors NBA Championship!
We were winning going into the final tack to the finish line, when we got a major override on the new windward sheet, and were hoveto about 200ft from the finish.
We had to run the stuck sheet to the other winch and grind it out.
We enjoyed a couple of beers after we finally crossed the finish line in 2nd (last) place.
The funniest part was when we went to furl the headsail.
Crew Dude threw the furling line down the middle of the cockpit and said:
"Pull like you are trying to get your wife out of the jewellery shop in Phillipsburg"
LOL
 |
| Nice Sail! |
 |
| Grinders Extraordinaire Jon and Dude |
Race started at 11:43am and finished at 12:37pm
Moving Time: 00:54:13
Trip Odometer: 6.4 NM
Avg Speed: 8.7 knots
Max Speed: 11.2 knots
 |
| GPS Track Click for BIGGER Yellow is where we had the override |
Great to see these four 12 Metre yachts actually being sailed instead of being cut up.
The crew was saying that all four of the boats are going to do the Heineken Regatta in March.
Twas a great experience... the cost was $90US per person, but it was worth it!
No comments:
Post a Comment