CREW
Foredeck - Pam, Kathleen, Nansi
Main Sheet & Timing - Susan
Jib Sheets - Steve & Chris L
Tiller - Skipper Ron
Before the race Skipper Hair...and calm waters behind
WIND, WAVES & JIB SELECTION
The course was in the lake off Centre Island pier. The forecast was for 12 knots gusting to 14 from the east. When we got out in the lake it was blowing a bit harder than that, about 15 knots gusting to 20. But it was cool and the air was denser than summer so the breeze certainly had more punch.
But the waves had the whole length of the lake to build and as soon as we got out beyond the shelter of the spit they were very big indeed.
Skipper Ron had spent a good part of the afternoon on Friday applying spreader and stantion patches on Circe’s new Black Beauty #1 so was keen to try the new sail. Despite that, however, he chose to go with the older #2 for the first two races. It seemed a popular choice with the Circe crew.
But the start of the first race was delayed as the race committee struggled to set a course in these trying conditions. So we had more time to sail back and forth under main alone on those heavy seas. Skipper Ron tried to warn the foredeck crew whenever he could about big waves coming. Big waves meant the bow of Circe rising 5 feet before plunging 10 feet down a wave leaving those on the foredeck in a near weightless condition.
An enduring memory of the day is Nansi going very quiet and introspective, then slowly but deliberately making her way to leeward shrouds and with amazing dignity barfing over the side. Then with equal dignity returning to her post. Not a word of complaint.
After the race Skipper Hair, with chips and beer in the cockpit
THE RACES
66 boats were registered for the regatta spread over two courses. Circe was in PHRF NFS (Non Flying Sails) Division 1 on Bravo Course. There were six boats registered in our Division, every one of which was a QCYC boat, Alpha Omega, Veloce, Amelia, Initram, and Ascend. So, all familiar to us and except for Ascend with virtually identical ratings. That would make for great boat racing.
The intent was to have three races, no drop.
RACE 1
This was likely the cleanest of our races. We went with the #2 and full main. We had a decent start with everyone to leeward except Ascend who was immediately to weather. But they tacked away and were seldom seen again. Veloce, Alpha, and us went as far as possible into the island before tacking out. We misjudged the layline on the next tack to the mark and got a header into the first mark and had to throw in a short tack to lay the mark. But we got to the weather mark first and maintained our lead. It was wing and wing downwind on a starboard tack. At the gybe gate Alpha took the port one and went out into the lake. Us, and Veloce went into the Island again and we both got to the weather mark both well ahead of Alpha who seemed to have lost majorly going out in the lake so early. We finished first, Veloce second, and Alpha third, Ascend fourth, Amelia fifth, and Inatram sixth. We essentially lead from start to finish. The shorter jib was a good choice. Gave us speed and was easier to tack. This was likely the windiest and waviest of the three races. Good race Circe Crew.
RACE 2
We downed the jib and had a bite to eat with Pam’s sandwiches between races. All except Nansi that is, who graciously declined anything except water. It looked like Ascend had dropped out as she was no longer around. We stayed with the #2 with a full main.
We had a very good start but were lucky not to have been over early. It must have been VERY close.
This race was primarily a duel with Alpha Omega. The wind and waves were still significant but seemed less than earlier, or maybe we were just getting used to it. As in the first race we went into the Island shore with Veloce and Alpha. Amelia had to tack out early from behind us to clear her air. Veloce tacked out next and we safely crossed her. Alpha was several boat lengths to leeward and asking for room to tack as we approached the Island shore. We responded that she had all the room she needed and held our course. She tacked and ducked us and we tacked over soon after. We sailed out into the lake on parallel port tacks with Alpha a couple of boat lengths to leeward. We tacked for the mark and Alpha followed. Again we got headed going into the mark on starboard and again had to throw in another short tack to get back to the layline. Alpha did the same shortly after but blew the tack and, as we learned later, got an override on the jib winch and stopped dead for several very long seconds as she sorted that out. She was not a factor after that. We rounded first again ahead of Alpha and Veloce and those positions were maintained for another circuit to the finish.
The only excitement on the second time around was the approach of a massive seagoing tug heading across our path on the second approach to the weather mark. He prudently stopped and let us go.
Another bullet for Circe, Alpha got the second, Veloce the third, Amelia the forth, and Initram the fifth.
RACE 3
The wind seemed to be in general decline and had dropped at some points to 8 knots. The massive waves we encountered on the way out were also not so much a factor. After his usual dithering and mind changes, Skipper Ron asked the already beleaguer foredeck crew to execute the sail change and we rigged the brand new Black Beauty carbon fiber #1 that Skipper Ron had been dying to try all day. As soon as we put it up the wind piped up to a disturbing 15 knots again.
Skipper Ron was not so lucky on this start, he lost track of the line, got trapped by Initram to leeward and was over early. We had to ease off around the bow of Initram to get back to the line and for the rest of the race played catch up. We slowly reeled everyone in over the course of the race. We got past Initram on the first upwind leg. We were right behind Amelia at the first gybing mark and inched ahead of her on the starboard tack into the Island. The new jib looked spectacular and seemed very fast, but it was a lot more work grinding in, so the already knackered cockpit crew of Steve and Chris did heroic work grinding that sucker in on each tack. We had closed the gap on Alpha by the finish and almost caught Veloce but needed another time around to get past, which we didn’t have. Alpha won that race, Veloce second, Circe third, Amelia forth, and Initram fifth.
Well-earned beer and dry clothes for all on a remarkably unmoving shore
POST RACE
We kept the new jib up and bucked back to the Eastern Gap and home. The two exhausted winch grinders ran for the 4:00 tender to seek rest and rehabilitation. After folding the #1 Skipper Ron went home for some beer and then we relaxed in Circe’s cockpit sipping beer and eating junk food. We then went up to the lawn to knock back some free Side Launch products, chat with other competitors, have dinner in the Great Hall and stay for the lotteries and prize giving.
It turns out that our division had the most starters in all three races, at five, than any other division on Bravo Course.
Also - Kathleen's in the Irish paper! She was sailing with us, but because she takes the pictures, there's often not many of her...so here's one of her, and her fantastic pebble mosaic :)
RESULTS
With two firsts and a third Circe won the series ahead of Alpha’s third, second, and first. Veloce picked up the blue flag.
Circe crew work in all three races as always was superb. The great benefit of a regular crew. Susan dumping the main in gusts to ensure that Skipper Ron stays warm and dry. Pam, Kathleen, and Nansi skirting the #2 then that massive #1 on a 45 degree sloping foredeck up wind in lumpy seas and then wrestling that extendable whisker pole on and off down wind. Steve and Chris grinding those jibs on under heavy load and with extra tacks required as Skipper Ron misjudged the layline almost every time.
Well Done Circe Crew!!! Again!
Skipper Ron.
*with thanks to Kathleen for a few copy edits ;)
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Addendum #1 from Steve the day after...
Medal Fatigue
Yo, Circe-ites:
I’m looking out at the harbour and beyond today. It looks ugly. White caps on top of the white caps, and a horizon full of heffalumps. I’m really, really glad the regatta was yesterday!
First, from my point of view, my most valuable contribution yesterday was noticing the jib halyard caught behind the top spreader.
Also from my point of view, “dem gals on de front o’ de boat” deserve medals. Holy smoke. That was NASTY up there. I can’t believe you could actually do anything other than just hold on in those seas and all that cascading water. Let alone skirt the jib (is that sexist?), person-handle the whisker pole, tie teensy skipper-approved bowlines, risk permanent shoulder trauma wrestling with the kicking strap and the outhaul, and THEN have to change sails and do it all again. I also noticed you were about 32-1/2 feet closer to the serious action during those rather tense starts. Crunch time? And Nansi, even taking a break from all that to feed the wildlife. How thoughtful! Your medal comes with a technicolour ribbon. (You’re stronger than I am.)
Still from my point of view, Susan also deserves a medal. (That and a bottle of Advil.) While the rest of us merely bobbed up and down in the seas waiting seemingly hours for a jib to go up, Susan was muscling the main with a vengeance, watching for flags – I could barely keep track of where the committee boat was – and monitoring the time. Sheesh. Oh, and playing den mother to the winch guys. “Chris, you might want to put another wrap on that. Now, put the handle in to be ready. Good boy. How you feeling, Steve?” Susan, I think you were the only one out there who was never allowed a single break.
My point of view, as you may have noticed, was mostly sitting quite comfortably at the aft end, not having to claw my way from one side of the boat to the other, enjoying the action, and vaguely wishing – again –I had my camera along to record the mayhem.
Chris did a great job figuring out how to move in a challenging cockpit without getting his knees crushed. I’m sure he had sweeping tiller nightmares last night. He certainly now knows where the phrase “back to the old grind” comes from. We had some pretty quick tacks, despite his desire to just lie down for a nap as he tried to crank. As for a medal? Absolutely. After me warning him numerous times to watch out for a potential (and catastrophic) override on the winch, Chris looked over and warned me of a potential (and catastrophic) override I was about to let happen. Saved.
Skipper Ron, all in all a great series of races. First, pre-race! So efficiently shouting “Big wave!” each time another one was about to rocket the foredeck crew skyward. Then the race: GREAT steering, great tactics. I suspect both your tiller shoulders are aching in a big way. I was particularly impressed by your recovery in that one start (was it the second?; I’m sure your race report will remind me), where you avoided colliding with a) the committee boat; b) any one of a couple of other racers; c) the committee boat; and d) any one of a couple of other racers…and managed to cross the line in clear air in a commanding position. That’s one for the record books. (Where’s Jay’s GoPro when we need it?) (I do wish, though, that you’d occasionally overstand a layline by just one extra boat length. I know, I know, otherwise where’s the challenge? But it’s just so traumatic for us mortals.) Your medal, if not merely for BRILLIANT sailing – which it was, has to be for a new and certainly record length stream of “fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck…” without getting tongue tied, or your mouth washed out with soap. (Sure impressed the heck out of our fledgling winch guy.)
Anyway, it was a really good day, everyone. THANKS!! Nice to see that yellow flag, too! Well earned.
Oh, I apologize in advance if any of my cold germs drifted forward rather than aft in those gentle breezes. I hope you’re all feeling healthy.
bestest,
steve
Addendum #2 also from Steve the day after:
Not to sell Susan short: Our Women Skippers 2018 Champion also capably took the helm whenever Skipper Ron vacated abandoned the bridge, rarely mind you, for a bladder break.
And Pam's sandwiches were delicious, and much appreciated.
Hate to miss a detail, you know.
Addendum #3 from Kathleen the day after:
Pam’s wrap gave me the strength to carry on for the next two races!
Addendum #4 from Nansi the day after:
And Pam’s excellent egg sandwich helped me relocate my innards post race. 😂
N.