I finally won a race tonight - the first time all season out of some 15 races - so I thought I'd share what went right. Finally beat the winning boats in the fleet - two Catalina 27s - boat-for-boat and I don't think they'll correct over me.
1. The wind was about perfect for the 30-1, blowing Beaufort 4 gusting Beaufort 5. I was able to carry full main and 155% genoa without excessive weather helm, and I had six people on board so plenty of rail meat. 2. Had a good start at the committee boat end of the line on starboard tack. A barger caused a logjam in front of me and I managed to duck under it all and crossed the line first. Led the fleet to and around the windward mark with only two tacks upwind. I had clean air and they couldn't close the gap. Sail trim was good on both sails. 3. The Catalina 27s passed me downwind as did a Cal 22. They went wing and wing the whole time, while I started out broad reaching and gybing to keep both sails hotter. I eventually switched to wing and wing too, but couldn't retake them. One of them had his genny poled out, and I didn't. They flew their sails better than me, but I tried to limit my losses. 4. When rounding the leeward mark I was able to cut inside and above the Cal 22 and one of the Catalina 27s, and retook them both on close reach to the offset mark. Only one Catalina 27 remained ahead of me. 5. At the offset mark that leading Catalina 27 tacked, so I gambled and just hardened up to close-hauled. That turned out to be a lucky move. I only had to tack once, several minutes later, to make the finish line. I was able to point high enough to make the pin end on starboard tack and hold off the Catalina 27 who was finishing on port tack, but he wasn't close enough to make it an issue. Fortunately for me he just sailed a longer / slower course after the offset mark, given the wind direction. I think the main reasons we won were a good start, and lucky gambling tactics around the leeward mark and after the offset mark. This rarely or never happens for me, so I'm still trying to figure out why :) The only thing I'd do differently is sail dead downwind wing and wing with my genny poled out, like the other guys, instead of trying to broad reach and gybe to the leeward mark. Hopefully I can have as good of luck next week. Cheers, Randy Stafford S/V Grenadine C&C 30-1 #7 Ken Caryl, CO
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