CREW
Audrey, Kathleen, Pam - Foredeck
Susan - Main Sheet
Steve & Jay - Genoa Winches
Ron - Steering
Nansi was apartment hunting with daughter Jamie.
THE RACE
There was a nice 8 to 10 knot breeze from the west when we first went out but after a while it was clear that it was dropping. we went with the light #1 again. That sail is getting a work out this year. The course was windward/leeward 3x around. All our usual adversaries were out.
The wind had shifter to the north so that the committee boat end was heavily favoured. We got caught a bit too far away from the line in the failing breeze and started at the right end but about 20 seconds late. Veloce was over early and had to restart. Then Blue Streak sailed over us. We should have tacked away for clear air but decided to hold on to the long first tack hoping she would be soon gone but she wasn't. Alpha was to leeward in clear air and pulled away. We tacked over onto port before the lay line hoping finally for some clear air. When we tacked for the mark on starboard we got tangled up with Fine Wine to weather giving us dirt and Warrington ahead forcing us up so that BS, Abra & Alpha tacked around ahead. Then we had to sail under Warrington to the spacer mark which slowed us some more.
On the run we closed to about a boat length of Alpha but then got tangled up with Skeena taking our air allowing Alpha to pull ahead again. Then at the shortened course finish with a VERY skewed finish line we had to sail all around one other boat as well as the back end of Prosecco's very ample transom to finish, adding additional time to our race.
THE RESULTS
We ended up 4th on corrected time behind Blue Streak, Alpha Omega, and Abracadabra. Abra beat us by just 57 seconds. Let's hope that's our drop race for this series.
POST RACE
Steve's back, and generously provided exquisite T'punches for all Circe crew in attendance. This Nansi even showed up for.Are these things even legal in Canada. They taste SO good they can't be!
Thank you Steve!!!
Skipper Ron
PS From Pam:
Not to take away from the ultra delicious t'punches, Ron did forget to mention Ann's fabulous salty chocolate cookies, the perfect accompaniment to the punch, and the special surprise--beautiful Carriacou earrings, each individually made and selected for us lucky
lady crew members. Cleverly made from the invasive lion fish fins (now destroying the reefs and habitat in the Caribbean) they are really beautiful, and must be seen to be believed. Any photos for the blog?? How about the recipe for the cookies, Ann??? Thank you, both, for your thoughtfulness and generosity!