Not One, but Two Nansi's? And Ali has a Show

CREW

Pam, Nansi - Foredeck

Susan - Main Sheet

Pat, Nansi, - Jib Sheets

Ron - Steering

Yes, we were understaffed. not two Nansi's  but Nansi played both roles of jib winches and foredeck crew.  Chris and Aud were out west, Steve was working on his own boat in Trinidad, Mike was at Tiff, Kathleen was helping husband Ali at the opening of his art show at the Rectory Café. But more on that later.

Pat Coyle joined us on the winches as a rehearsal for the QCYC Regatta on Saturday. Pat grew up on the island with Ron and also went to Junior Club. He has not sailed for some years, but it all came back.

WIND AND SAIL SELECTION

Wind was out of the south west and looked like it was going to be light so we set the boat up with the light sheets but did not commit to a jib until we got out. On getting into the bay out of the lee of the island, the wind was stronger and was a steady 10 knots with gusts to 15. We went with the heavy sheets and the heavy #1. A good call but hard work for Pat.

COURSE

The course was a windward leeward buoys to port 3x around. The start was set up by Red Path with the weather mark toward RCYC.

THE COMPETITION

Everyone was out, Blue Streak, Abracadabra, Alpha Omega, Veloce, and Kokoro

RACE

It looked like a pin end favoured but it looked like it was going to be crowded. We headed to the line on starboard with a minute left from the weather end planning to run it a bit but discovered ourselves all alone. The majority seemed to be at the pin with Veloche and Dove at the committee boat. The middle of the line was all ours. Pam was at the bow calling the line and got it perfect. We started with clear air well to weather of Abra, Alpha, and BS, and to leeward and ahead of Veloche. Turned out that pin end wasn't that heavily favoured and we were actually in pretty good shape with the boats to leeward but with Veloce on our starboard quarter were not able to tack so everyone sailed in towards Wards Island. Abra tacked onto port first, short of the layline, and had to duck us. BS crossed our bow. As soon as Veloce tacked behind us we went over too and were pretty well on the layline all the way to the line. We had to duck Abra after they tacked for the mark but were well ahead of both Veloche and Alpha as we tacked and rounded and not far behind either BS or Abra. We laid off around the weather mark and the distance mark and went wing and wing on starboard tack dead down wind. When we got to the jibe mark we went around on port tack and stayed on it to about 3/4 of the way to the starboard layline. Both Alpha and Veloce tacked onto starboard after rounding the jibe mark and went into the island again. We gained a lot on them by staying out and got the weather mark with an increased lead.  Then onto the dead run again with Nansi sprinting from the cockpit to the foredeck to help Pam with the pole again. At the jibe mark we rounded right behind Voulez Vous and were stuck on their port quarter with back wind  heading out on port tack so tacked into the island on starboard to get clear air. Both Veloce and Alpha (with Alpha now ahead) carried on port as we had done on the last time around and it was our turn to lose some ground to them by the time we got to the weather mark but still with a comfortable lead. We sailed a nice run to the finish.

RESULTS

Circe got the jug but we banked it until next week when more of the full crew can share it and also because we couldn't drink it as we had to get to Ali's opening. More of that later.

Blue Streak was first but only by 1:38, Circe was second, Alpha was third, Veloce 4th, Abra 5th, and Kokoro 6th.

Ali's Opening

Pam, Patrick, Susan, and Ron dashed over to the Rectory Café to join Kathleen and catch the last half of Ali's opening and view his amazing collection of new work. I thought Nansi was coming too but I suspect she had dog duties and as such was able to first report on our sailing success this night. But it turned out that the start and race were only the beginning of big wins for Skipper Ron and Pam. We also scored the best piece in a very good show. A very good evening by any standard.