Circe had a full crew plus last night. The big news was the return of Mr. Manley from deep in the Caribbean to the heart of Toronto. This was Steve's first sail of 2014 on the good ship Circe. But also back was Nansi after a 3 race absence and Mike after a two race holiday. So we had Kathleen and Nansi on the foredeck, Susan on main, Mike and Steve on jib and Pam in her valuable role as rover and general organizer. All set up for a real blow. But alas, it was light wind. Very light wind.
The return of Steve Manley to the winches of Circe
The course was set up as a buoys to starboard triangle with the start off red path and the first mark near the eastern gap. It was a long line We decided not to stray far from the line and leave our new Vanderbilt start technique to another day. The mark end was heavily favoured as the wind was clocking and everyone else had the same idea about staying close so we were in the middle of a bunch at the mark end running the line at molasses speed while Blue Streak came in close hauled from a long way away with some speed ( 2 knots?) and started making get out of my way noises. We were right in her cross hairs with no rights and no good options. We had to harden on over the line early but managed to tack back and restart again at the favoured pin end not far behind but to weather of most everyone else who were all moving VERY slowly. Steve played out light #1 beautifully and we gradually reeled EVERYBODY in and past even Blue Streak and got to the first mark with an inside buoy room overlap on Abra and rounded first in our division. Things were looking good.
We hardened on to a starboard tack and footed into the Island in continuing light winds. The rest of the fleet behind sailed higher hard on the wind but went slower. Just when we were thinking about tacking over the wind continued to clock towards the north and we were eventually laying the finish line on starboard tack with Abra and Veloche dead in the water behind. Then it started to drizzle. Blue Streak managed to pick up a breeze and inch past us but we crossed the line right behind her at a thundering 2 knots.
We must have finished in the last dying gasp of wind because many boats behind failed to finish before the time limit. Veloche never made to the line and I'm not sure if Abra did and only one Shark finished in time.
We certainly didn't get the jug but we probably got the bullet though no official results posted yet.
But the result of the first series is posted and we did finish second to Blue Streak in that series.
We motored to the mooring in a light drizzle and ducked below when the skies opened up to enjoy some very fine Rhum Agricole from Martinique that Steve brought back with him. The snack food from Mexico produced by Pam which contained insect carcasses was less universally well received.
Well done Circe crew and welcome back Steve.
Skipper Ron