[gpsbug] Race Report Fall Series 1
- From: GeoTatum@xxxxxxx
- To: gpsbug@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 28 Aug 2005 10:54:11 EDT
Hello Friends,
That sure was an interesting race. It seemed to span all the potential
weather conditions on the James. We went from flat zero wind conditions blowing
from
the ENE to 14 knots blowing from the SE in less than two hours, and of course
we had a marvelous water spout near Ft. Eustis to entertain us.
Aboard the Anam Cara, we hosed up the spinnaker launch and douse, even though
we had more talent and experience on that boat then any race prior. In fact,
our crew problem was that we had too much talent without really defining crew
positions. When we had a problem or a deck operation, three crewmen would pile
up on it, and other things that needed to be attended were left cleated in
place. Luckily this problem is easy to solve for the remainder of the series
races.
But despite the fuzzy Anam Cara crew work, and a string of sail set hose-ups,
Mike Maculley sailed an excellent race. Our start was fantastic. It was the
first start of my life where the final seconds of the countdown required us to
sail against the tide trying to sweep us through the marks. We effectively
started sailing backwards. Then the wind died. Thank God the tidal current was
still sweeping out.
Hats off to John Edwards and the Recovery team! He also nailed the start and
drifted out into the James right behind us. I was amazed how well that boat
has improved in light wind conditions.
It was well after all the starts when the wind filled in from the SE. Somehow
John and Mike were able to make some ground from the drift upstream, so both
of us were first to the new SE wind line. It was a fetch to the G1 mark. The
Anam Cara made it to the mark about a boat length ahead of the Recovery. Behind
us the rest of the fleet was closing fast, especially John's team (all two of
them) on his Rebecca J. The down hill leg to G5 was truly a dead-run. The
current had finally shifted, so it was with us, if it was not slack. We
launched
our spinnaker and hosed the launch all up. But within a few minutes we had
cleared the tangles (Like a spinnaker guy through the bow pulpit) and we were
making good time. The wind continued to build toward 10 knots, and it looked as
if we were going to put some series distance between us and the Recovery. But
John Edwards pulled another big genoa up his split track forestay which gave
him the sail power needed to hold his position relative to us. I think that
trick only works for a dead run, and it sure looked gorgeous.
The Rebecca J rounded the mark in third place and popped her little white
spinnaker. Then she took off like a rocket. Both of us were on a Stb tack. We
tried to shake her shadow by heading high, toward the NN side of the course, as
the Recover ran the line. We gibed over about 200 yards from G5 and heated up
to the G5 mark on a port tack. Luckily were still holding our lead on the
Recovery, who was sailing hard and true on her original starboard tack. We
rounded
G5 still in first, but we fouled the spinnaker douse and head sail transition.
The Rebecca J rounded the mark and sailed right by us. The wind was now
approaching 14 knots or so, and even with five crewmen on the rail, we were
overpowered with the big genoa. Mike and I regretted not making a sailchange to
the
number 3 at the mark. John Edwards rounded well, and his boat seemed to like
the big wind and wave action coming out of the Pagan. He was above us so Mike
called for a tack to cover the Recovery. It was clear we were racing for
second,
as the Rebecca J was walking away from us. We caught the Recovery on
starboard and forced her to fall off our stern. But when we tacked back over to
cover
her, she was gone. Clearly that Hunter 30 was in her element, and there was no
catching her either.
I looked behind us. The Alexis was closing in on us fast, but she clearly was
not going to get to us before the finish. Behind her Steve Butkus on the Win
drush was rounding the G5 mark. I enjoyed watching her race down the
backstretch with that pretty spinnaker! The Oddessy and Southern Yankee were
sailing
tight with the Windrush in the chase.
Well, this is the race report as I saw it from the deck of the Anam Cara. I
look forward to next weekend!
Sincerely,
George Tatum
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