After the first race of the season was cancelled because of stormy weather, and the second turned into a drift, this week’s race was looking to provide great sailing.  Alas, the forecasted east winds of 6 to 7 knots became intermittent, with long periods of calm.

The race had an easy start with an east wind.  The starting horn wasn’t heard. Since it was already 12:02, the boats just proceeded downwind across the start line without any of the normal jockeying. Jay was first, followed by Mark and then Tim & Erik.  Brad followed about four minutes later, with Jim about 10 minutes after that.  Brian and Tom had a delayed start.

Approaching Buoy #1, Tim & Erik, being just behind Mark, had him in their wind-shadow and were gaining slowly.  To get a bit more wind, Mark turned northeast, cutting across the bow of Tim & Erik, who, to yield right-of-way, quickly turned to the southeast to avoid a collision (Jay watched in amusement).  Those first three boats were almost bumping into each other as they rounded Buoy #1 at 12:08.  

In the run from Buoy #1 to #2, the wind freshened, with Mark taking the lead, followed by Jay. Tim & Erik held their third-place position.  These three boats continued as a pack, rounding Buoy #2 at 12:11, a quick 3-minute run from Buoy #1.  Brad, being back just four minutes at Buoy #1, missed that very brief freshened wind, taking nine minutes to get to Buoy #2.  That turned out to be the story of the day.  When a boat missed one of those intermittent periods of good wind, it fell further behind.

Jay pulled ahead of Mark, and Tim & Erik following the turn around Buoy #2, tacking SE, and then NE before passing north of the island at 12:20. Mark went for the wind that looked to be somewhat stronger just off the north shore. Unfortunately, that stronger wind led Mark right into calm water off Hugh Miller’s point (It caught Jim and Brian too). Tim & Erik followed the move Mark made so successfully last week, heading south of the island.  As they approached, they realized that this week there was no wind to the south, so they tacked back, passing the north side at about 12:22. Brad and then Mark eventually escaped the calm but were too far back to catch the lead. 

Jay led the rest of the course with Tim & Erik about 11 minutes back.  Then a moderate wind came up. Tim & Erik benefited the most, hitting 5.2 knots.

Jay finished at 1:15. Tim & Erik had better wind, closing much of the gap with Jay, to finish at 1:16. The race was called at 1:30, although Brad continued, crossing the finish at 1:39.