2006 Sunset – Race #2

April 26th - Crew tonight was Dick, Art, Demitri, Frank, Jim and Reggie. The wind was medium strength but had dropped in the last hour and we thought it might continue to get lighter. When we checked the starting line it was square to approx. 235°, which was about where the wind was at. When we checked again the wind seemed to have gone right slightly. Since the line was square we figured we could start almost anywhere and we thought it made sense to start toward the RC boat end (but not necessarily right at the RC boat).

We started maybe 5-10 boat-lengths up from the RC boat (say 20% of the distance from the RC boat to the pin). Mayhem was close on our weather hip but because we were in a "safe leeward" position we were easily able to pinch them off (they dropped down to leeward and behind us! - but then later tacked away). We heard one of the J/80s called over at the start (#675) but didn't see them go back (the RC reported later that they did so they must have waited awhile before doing so).

As we started up the windward leg on starboard-tack, we were on a lift (205°+) and had a number of boats to our left. About half tacked to the north rather quickly but Avet, Windfall and the Star sailed with us for a short way. Since we expected the wind to die we thought it might go left so we didn't want to tack to the north while we were still on a lift. Avet tacked north first, followed by Windfall and then the Star. We went a little ways further and then tacked to cover.

As we headed north on port tack we could see dark clouds and rain up toward Malibu. Since there generally is more wind under and around the edges of dark clouds we thought we might look for pressure. We crossed somewhat ahead of Avet, we had gained slightly on her, and get heading toward the dark rain clouds. We tacked three times more and rounded D Mark first in our class. We were far enough ahead that we don't know who rounded second, it might have been Windfall or Avet.

Port tack seemed favored downwind so we gybed over unto port immediately after getting the spinnaker set. We did this for three reasons - 1) port tack pointed more directly at the south entrance, 2) we thought the wind was stronger on the north side of the course and 3) if the wind went south at all being on the north would benefit us. We continued on port tack almost to the detached breakwater, where we gybed for the south entrance. We thought the north side had a bit more wind downwind so we would have a good lead on the other boats in PHRF-D but as we approached the south entrance Avet was right there and rounded a short ways ahead of us. We don't know where they came from as we thought we kept a good lookout downwind and never saw them.

Once we were in the entrance channel we concentrated on catching up to Avet because if we could finish right behind them we would hopefully correct out on them. It was really light in the entrance channel and the wind was from the north. We were able to catch up and at one point almost punched through to leeward (if we had enough momentum to coast another 20-25 feet we probably would have made it!). Since we were stopped, Avet then pulled out on us but fortunately (for us! - but not for Avet) she had to go outside and to leeward of a big cruising boat at the turning mark. We were able to stay close behind her and finished just after she did, correcting out.

It interesting - we have been looking forward to our new rating (132) but so far this season it hasn't made any difference in the results! What is really satisfying is that in two races we have had two 1st (almost as many as we had in all of 2005 - 3).