Spring Series - Race 1
Well, not exactly 15 mph... The fairly steady 10mph wind during the day dropped to around 5mph for the race... Bummer... we like big air. Still racing is better than not racing. The RC chose a short 7b course (triangle, once around). We had a decent start (top three) but not lights out in a small fleet of six. The first leg was a little fluky. The advantage we achieved off the line vanished an we saw ourselves rounding the first mark in third. However, with a late wind shift it became apparent the two boats in front of us could not fetch the mark on starboard. The first boat to the mark attempted to shoot it... and ultimately the shift cost both boats a couple extra tacks within two boat lengths of the mark... Hmm, things are looking up.
The second boat to the mark made it around. As we approached, the first boat was parked and forced to give us room. After a little contact, we rounded the windward mark and hoisted to get out of Dodge. The contact was inconsequential but they spun and make a nice comeback. We concentrated on the one boat in front of us. Coming from behind and playing a shift, we were able to slide over the top and reach the jibe mark in first.
The next leg was like match racing... just the two of us. They went high early and managed to pass us but not pull away. They jibed to starboard and we followed, gained some separation and the advantage. They tried to jibe back as we neared the leeward mark but realized they were toast as we remained on starboard. We carried this advantage all the way to the mark, dropped the pole as we jibed and flew the kite (sans pole) to the mark as we prepared for the douse.
After we rounded the mark and cleaned up, we had a three boat advantage and simply needed to cover for the last leg. Realizing they couldn't just follow us, they tacked away from the better course to separate. Somewhat reluctantly... we followed. It wasn't long before they started looking at the third place boat and realized they had to protect second place. Back on the better tack, we finished first with a sizable advantage.
The second boat to the mark made it around. As we approached, the first boat was parked and forced to give us room. After a little contact, we rounded the windward mark and hoisted to get out of Dodge. The contact was inconsequential but they spun and make a nice comeback. We concentrated on the one boat in front of us. Coming from behind and playing a shift, we were able to slide over the top and reach the jibe mark in first.
The next leg was like match racing... just the two of us. They went high early and managed to pass us but not pull away. They jibed to starboard and we followed, gained some separation and the advantage. They tried to jibe back as we neared the leeward mark but realized they were toast as we remained on starboard. We carried this advantage all the way to the mark, dropped the pole as we jibed and flew the kite (sans pole) to the mark as we prepared for the douse.
After we rounded the mark and cleaned up, we had a three boat advantage and simply needed to cover for the last leg. Realizing they couldn't just follow us, they tacked away from the better course to separate. Somewhat reluctantly... we followed. It wasn't long before they started looking at the third place boat and realized they had to protect second place. Back on the better tack, we finished first with a sizable advantage.
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