What a wonderful race! Today really served up a handful of wind to make this a real challenge, but the handicapping worked out just perfectly with the first three boats finishing nearly bow to stern across the finish line! Gotcha certainly is grateful for the invitation--hope we can join in for more later. Now for the story as to why we didn't do better other than the filthy bottom from a year's idle time in the slip. On the run out the channel just past the green mark at Jones Creek entrance I got BOOMED on the side of the head as the main jibed while I was not watching. Let me tell you, that piece of aluminum packs a wallop for sure. Of course the sunglasses went overboard, but I very nearly did as well. It put me down on my knees with a major string of expletives cut loose to prove what a sailor I am, I guess. Now, I'm nursing a splitting headache and a nice goose egg on my cheekbone. Of course that's not why we got slowed down--it was the 30 seconds we spent aground after that little incident that kept us out of the winner's seat! Oh, well----maybe next time and you can bet that my crew and I will be keeping our heads down in the future! More Sailing. John Perry John wrote: > Pagan River Challenge will be held on the Pagan River on Sunday, May > 18th. > Warning 1100, prep 1105, first start 1100 > > Race Instructions: > Starting/Finish line = between East end of GPYC pier and East - most > "no wake" buoy. > Course: > Starting line to Pagan River Entrance and Return (6.3 nm). > Marks: > (R"2" and G"1") for Pagan River entrance will serve as a "gate" you > can go around either one of them. > These are the only marks on the course?.but there is some shallow > water out there. > Sails: > Non-spinnaker?two headsails permitted. > Starts: (Start According to GPS time) > Staggered start. Finish is boat-for-boat. Here are start times for > boats I think might race: > > Whisper - Balboa 26 - 11:10:00 > Rebecca - Capri 22 - 11:11:16 > Recovery - Hunter 30 - 11:13:47 > Alexis - Cal 330 - 11:14:06 > Odyssey - S2 11.0A - 11:16:12 > Windrush II - Sabre 83 - 11:19:46 > Tranquillity - Hunter 37 11:20:05 > > According to my weather guru, Sunday should be mid-70's with wind W to > WSW at 10-15 knots, with scattered T-storms. > This should be fun, and a real challenge. > > Monitor UHF 71. > > Meet at GPYC after race (2:30 or 3:00) for prizes and swapping lies. > > See ya on the water! > > John > > >