Fleet 61 2008 spring series: week 2 (May 28)

Week two saw some excellent RC work by Jeep Califano and Andy Gilles aboard Andy's J/105, Jato. At 6:30, the wind was light, spotty, and variable, but the RC correctly guessed that the sea-breeze would fill in. They set up in the right place, hedged their bets on a good windward mark, and waited for things to stabilize. We knew we weren't in EBYRA any more when we saw how short the line was! Extra credit goes to Andy for having the gumption to risk his shiny new gelcoat on a short line, shifty winds, and the boat end favored.

Race 3: Wind 5 building to 10 @ 195 going to 215, course C2

Don’t Panic
WOW
Blondie
Heat Wave
Trouble
J Puddle Duck

The first race of the day the RC boat was favored by 10 degrees as the wind continued to clock. It was a clean start with all boats about a boat length behind the line at T-zero. WOW started second tier at the boat and picked up a slight lift resulting in a strong second place finish. Don’t Panic started mid fleet, got a nose out front by the first tack to port and never looked back for an easy first place. Trouble, always competitive, decided to practice spinnaker dancing at the first mark and fell back to 5th.

Race 4: Wind 9-10 @ 215, course C6

WOW
Heat Wave
Trouble
Blondie
Don’t Panic
J Puddle Duck

No late starters this time. Current had picked up and pushed the fleet to the line and a little too pushy for Don’t Panic. Sorry guys but it wasn’t even close. However they managed what would have been an amazing recovery as they challenged for second place at the first leeward mark but then forgot to trim the genoa loosing three boats. Wow just sailed a perfect race and stretched out a long lead by going hard right to pick up the ebbing Hutchinson River current. Heat Wave, Trouble, and Blondie fought for 2nd at the finish but Commodore Lages assisting Captain Rosenberg squeaked out second place.