After some boat maintenance including a thorough sanding job on the bottom of the boats, the team went out for a quick training session on Friday. The wind was out of the southwest at 3 knots (and that is being generous). We learned a lot about how much little movements in the boat and on the sail plan affect the boat speed. Coach Ed Adams set a mark and we did some simple mark roundings before the wind finally had enough and totally quit on us.
We arrived to the boat park on Saturday morning to a "typical" Long Island Sound setting... no wind and perfect water skiing conditions. The race committee posponed the racing on shore for about 2 hours before the seabreeze started to fill. The first race was run in an easterly breeze at about 5 knots. Russ and his his team started towards the boat and went out right on the first beat while Harrison won the pin end and headed out left. Russ and his team found themselves in 3rd at the first mark while Harrison did not get to the pressure at the top right of the course and found himself around 11th at the first mark. On the run Russ and another boat extended from the pack while Harrison ground down the leaders. At the leeward mark, Harrison found a great hole and snaked the inside on the mark, passing 5 boats in the process and escaping to the right side. At the 2nd weather mark, Russ was comfortably in second and Harrison was in 4th. Harrison passed another boat on the last downwind and finished 3rd while Russ held on to 2nd place.
After the first race, the breeze quickly shifted from an easterly to the natural sea breeze direction of south. The breeze also came up a bit to 7 knots for the start. Unfortunately, the current was coming down the line which forced the fleet over for 5 or 6 general recalls. The committee became impatient and threw up the black flag. This is what was required as the first black flag start was all clear and we were off racing. Russ and Harrison were at the middle of the line, towards the pin end. Russ got away clean while Harrison had to do a clearing tack. Both boats then headed for the right side. Because Harrison had to duck so many boats while Russ crossed them, Russ was in a far better position. This was also complicated for Harrison as he felt he was tacked on by everyone on the starboard tack layline. Russ rounded the first weather mark in 3rd and Harrison rounded near the back of the fleet after a tough windward leg. On the run, Russ extended while Harrison passed a few boats. Things did not change much during the race except for the breeze dying. Russ finished 3rd in the race and Harrison caught up a few boats and finished in 17th.
After the first day, Russ is sitting in 2nd overall with a 2-3 and Harrison is in 8th with a 3-17. As I type we are sitting on the shore here at the Noroton Yacht Club waiting for wind again. Hopefully we can head out racing before the front passes through and we miss our flight home.
Until next time,
St. Francis Team Racing
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