September 10th - Frank was the helmsman tonight and he brought along his young son Gavin so tonight's crew ages spanned more than 50 years. That is what sailing is all about - fun for sailors of all ages!

Before the start we saw wind of about ~240°, which meant the pin end was favored. Rather than try to start right at the pin end we thought we would try and start in the middle or slightly toward the pin end. The way the traffic worked out Creeper started between us and the pin with Teaser just to our right. We had speed and pointing ability at the start and were able to immediately work our way out in front of Teaser, who soon tacked away. At that point we were sailing ~195°, which was at least a 5° header from the wind we saw before the start. Creeper was sailing faster but lower to our south and Spirit and Crimson Star were just to the north of us. Because we would just miss crossing ahead of Spirit if we tacked, we decided not to tack even though we were on the unfavored tack. We were hoping for any kind of a header, which would allow us to tack and cross safely ahead of Spirit (we know they are a bit anxious when boats get close to them and need more space than other boats). This was a mistake as we eventually got lifted to ~210° instead.

Spirit tacked to the north and we thought about immediately following but kept going a short while longer. Creeper tacked to port and it looked like they would have to duck us. However, we decided to tack well before we got to their line, probably another mistake. As we got to the middle of the course we converged with Superstar on starboard tack. They crossed well ahead and then tacked, forcing us to tack back onto starboard. We then were converging with Creeper on port tack. They were just able to squeak ahead of us with the boats getting about 6-8 feet apart at the closest (this was actually a bit of a bizarre encounter as we think Creeper was hailing "What should we do??" as they passed very close ahead).

We sailed a short ways farther on starboard and then tacked over to port. As we approached the starboard-tack layline Creeper and Superstar were on the starboard-tack layline with Creeper in front. We had to duck Teaser, who was a couple of boatlengths below the layline. We tacked for the mark and then had Teaser closing on port tack (Superstar had to tack twice to round the mark as well, but were not an issue because they were far enough ahead of Teaser and us). Teaser tried to tack ahead of us and probably didn't make it (it was very close but it seemed that they hadn't quite come down to a close-hauled course when we had to change course to avoid them). We went below Teaser and because we had much better boat speed almost sailed through their lee. Unfortunately, neither of us was making the windward mark. As we got about one to two boatlengths from the mark Teaser tacked away (Crimson Star had been on their weather hip and we think they tacked as soon as Crimson Star tacked). We tacked to follow Teaser and then when we thought we could fetch the mark we tacked back. We were able to just make it around the mark - there was definitely some current at S Mark as we only missed the mark by 18-24 inches! Teaser rounded immediately behind us with Crimson Star right behind them. We aren't sure who was behind them but it was probably either Avet or Spirit.

After rounding the windward mark Teaser and Crimson Star were sailing higher and potentially getting on our air so we gybed north to separate. Creeper and Superstar went to the south. We stayed to the north of the other boats for most of the downwind leg. The only change in position is that Avet, who is very fast downwind in the lighter conditions, went streaking through the fleet. At the detached breakwater the order was Creeper, Superstar, Avet, us, Teaser and then Crimson Star (we think). We finished (and corrected) in the same order.

Tonight's crew was Frank, Gavin, Peter, Art, Dick, Reggie and Demitri (going from the stern to the bow).

Last updated: September 11, 2003