At 10:30 am, rather than cancelling today’s race, at the urging of the truly tough crews and with the morning rain predicted to move out at about 1:00 pm, the Commodore opted for a delayed start at 1:00 pm with a cutoff at 2:00.  At 12:30 pm it was still raining moderately with an ENE wind, but the truly tough sailors put on their raincoats and hoisted their sails.  Jay and Brad towed their two Hobies to just east of the island. Mark had hoisted his mainsail but lost the pin on his Jib Halyard in the rush to get rigged in the rain, so he was out for the day. Tim & Erik had an uneventful launch.  With the race captain delayed (Brian substituting), Jim, at the urging of Tim and Erik who were nearby, declared the start of the race by sailing over the stating line.  Jay and Brad were already west of the island and approaching fast.  

Tim and Erik rounded Buoy #1 first, with Jim right on their rudders.  Jay and Brad were in formation just behind.  After rounding Buoy #1, the order reversed, with Jay and Brad in the lead, Jim hanging on, and Tim & Erik well to the rear.  The order didn’t change for the rest of the race.  Jay and Brad went north of the island while Jim tried unsuccessfully to catch up by going south of the island.  As the wind was coming out of the east on both sides of the island, all the boats were slowed in the relatively narrow channels having to tack their way into the wind.  

When the race was called at 2:00 pm, Jay, Brad had crossed the finish line, Jim was back a bit and Tim & Erik were approaching Buoy #3 (they went on to cross the line at 2:23 pm).  By 2:30 pm, the rain had abated such that sails were almost dry.