2013 Racing, part 2

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With the new sails, we looked forward to the last three series of the year:

  • A month of around the lake mid-distance Commodore Cups
  • A W/L Frostbite series
  • Shackleton Cup races to Maynards until the ice came.

First up were the Commodore Cups. Mid-distance racing around the lake. Crew was going to be an issue because Chris and his wife just had a baby, so he was out. That meant the three of us, WHEN fire-fighter Jon had the weekend off. Happily we had some subs. and the distance racing meant that a premium was not going to be on maneuvers. We did VERY well in the 3 or the 4 races we did; never placing worse then 2nd. Here Jon and Pia and I reach to the first turning mark. After 10 miles of racing we missing winning this race by 30 seconds corrected to a J-27.



The frostbite race did not go so well. The breeze was up, blowing 15-18 knots. Pia, Jon, Dan and I on board. The upwind was very fast, and we had the leading Soling in our sights. We stayed with him downwind and now had him on corrected. After the douse and the turn upwind, there was a loud BANG and the clew of the jib started to flap wildly. The clew ring had pulled clean off. Sommerset had forgotten to sew webbing strap in to it to reinforce it, and I didn't pick that up. We scored a non-discardable DNF for the race and our regatta was toast. Happily, Sommerset repaired the sail in a day and sent it back to us.


After the Frostbite, WYC settles into a series of Shackleton Cup 'races' to Maynards. Stay on the water until it freezes. Or later. BlueJ is the perfect boat for this.. We often had 8 on board. And it helps, in 20-25 knots. Here we are coming home in a big breeze with a reef in, and full crew on the rail to keep her fast and flat.


 All and all, the sails are just wonderful, and the boat is working well. 2014 is going to be interesting.....


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