Forecast wind was 10-14 knots. Actual was more like 16-18 with gusts to 26, from the NW. Temp was 68 dropping to 60 within the hour. Luckily the water that came over the bow and soaked us was warm. Had four on-board instead of our usual three to race, and what a blessing that was. Started out downwind with a reefed main, and pretty quickly was going 7.7 mph (note hull speed is 5.9 mph). Went upwind for a bit to see how that would go, and moved along at 5.4 mph upwind with just the reefed main, no jib. Proceeded to starting line, which was further downwind and had good-sized waves and whitecaps. 9 boats came out to race; 2 retired before starting. 2 ran agound during the race, in part because the water was down due to the high NW winds, a 41-footer and my Harbor 20. The finishers were a 46, a 40, a 39, and a hardy J-27. We managed the first upwind from B to E and then flew downwind to N. Then up to A, this time with the jib up since the wind had moderated a tad, where we ran aground. Used a mix of engine and jib to get her off, and then sailed home. We persisted, and wanted to finish the race, but that was not to be.