So this past Tuesday was Race #2 of the PRYC Walter Graf Spring Series. The fleet was out early and the RC was equally up to the task of having a nice 3-1-A x 2 course all set for us to go right on time.
As per the SI's, Div 2's warning sound and subsequent starting sequence was first and we set our wathches and deliberated our best course of actions. We wanted the pin end and to continue going left to get some current relief.
The breeze was light, but fairly consistent at 4-5 knots, so this was going to be tough night for us being heaviest by far in our division of some well sailed J 29's and of course the J 35 and E 37.
So at 2 minutes prior to our start and on port still going away from the line we notice the prep flag come down. We argue on the boat how much time is left and before we know it, we are starting a minute late! The RC had messed up Div 2 start and we failed to notice. Oh well, we just have to make up the time.....lots of passing lanes out there tonight!
Being late meant we had a pretty clean lane off the start, so we got to go left as planned. We went further than any other boat, stopping only when it looked like the breeze was lightening up. When we flopped over it quickly showed gains against others......
We ground out a few more tacks, reeled in a few more boats and before we knew it, were right on Jabiru's transom heading to the first mark with Avalanche just a few hundred yards ahead, we felt very good, the boat was going very well in the light stuff tonight!
We jibed set at the mark and made short work of Jabiru who had done a bear awaway set, now just Avalanche remained ahead of us. We slowly picked away at there lead, sailing to pressure all the time. Finally, after sailing into another soft spot we decided to jibe first and it was perfect as we found a little more pressure right and made up our last bit on Kelly and Jason.........now was it enough.
We did a nice Mexican take down around #1 and had a one tack beat home. We trimmed and tweaked right to the end.
We finised second over the line but took first for the night again. That's three bullets in the last 5 races, not bad leading up to the Van Isle 360 just three short weeks away!
Thanks Don - Nick - Val - Pierre - and Andy!
CdM
No comments:
Post a Comment