Beautiful evening in the West River, racing on Specific Gravity with G.
After a solid set and a great downwind start, SG started near the front of the pack, leading the race at times. However, we fumbled gybes and the set to place 5th out of 8. Much learning occurred.
Fun little jaunt to practice solo tacks, chase down the Chessies, and do a little wing on wing. It's been a while since I did a solo, I noticed real improvement on all counts.
I don't know what they did to Diablo tonight, but she was sliding through the water like a greased pig. We won every race by ridiculous margin, in spite of really really good sailing by at least a few other boats. I'll take the win, though. :D
It was a nice variety of conditions, not too puffy, but shifty in the sense that the wind came in slightly different directions at different locations of the course. It was an unusual easterly wind prevailing, so maybe that's how it is in an easterly at the mouth of the severn.
Kudos to John, who finished 103 last week and for whom this was his first sail outside of class.
Great time with Ron and John. The port side jib sheet fairlead was broken so we couldn't sheet in or point - it was nice to have an honest excuse for once instead of making something up! ;)
Took Hippie Chic out for her maiden ANSS voyage with G, who flew a hull several times, this is good driving practice.
Very excited about my oldest's first race on SG, the fresh breeze made for a great second time on the boat. During the start sequence, though, about a minute before starting, the RC called off the race because of approaching t storms. Lots of disappointed sailors, I'm glad I don't have to make those calls...
Took the youngest out on a rainbow for a little practice, and chased his brother down while he was practicing with his chessies. Beautiful afternoon.
Very cool race concept for this Monday night races. We needed a reef in before rounding the top mark, and the reef out before rounding the bottom mark. Two laps meant that we'd have to put in and shake out reefs while underway.
Unfortunately a thunderstorm came a little too close, so the race got called off before my boat could round the top mark. We did start out under full sail, so we practiced putting in a reef underway once, at least.
Took my wife and oldest out on the getaway before a big storm blew through. Pretty exhilarating, racing back on the rising breeze...
Then hung around and read The Tempest while the storm raged.
Then had a lovely SNR in the beautiful clear, cool afternoon afterward.
Racing! So much fun watching people improve dramatically. Not least myself, making questionable strategic choices and still improving my communications. We didn't come last, though, and we had a ton of fun.