Yesterday was the second of the SYSCO Summer Series. As always the drama leading up to the start of race was most of the excitement. One of our crew arrived late at the meeting point for the car pool so we didn't depart the transit center until nearly 5:00PM. I received the new jib and loaded in Kevin "fingers" Rhodes SUV, along with the sail numbers that needed to be attached. On the drive there, I had the hair brained idea that I could actually place the sail numbers on the jib while on the way to the boat. To give you an idea of what this was like: imagine yourself in Amsterdam, in the back of cab doing 120mph through the city streets, and the cab driver is a turk having just finish a combination of crack, speed and opium smoking, and you're trying to do needle point in the backseat. Kevin is one of my best friends, and I am not saying he's a bad driver, or my safety was in question while in the car; but way in the back of the SUV buried under 85lbs of Dacron sail it sure gave me flashbacks to Amsterdam. All in all, it was a bad idea, the numbers never got on, and I just got car sick. Thankfully Michelle and Marc were at the boat and all was ready when we arrived. We scrambled to get the headsail on as we motored out to the course while Marc got a crash lesson in yacht racing.
As we approached the committee boat and were recorded for the race; but then it dawned on me that we left the course book back at the dock, in haste to put up the new jib. We celebrated though having known we arrived just in time to be included in the race. Winds were out of the North-NW, blowing about 10-12 knots making it a brisk sail upwind. We set up the main, and the new jib to begin the start sequence. For the third time in a row we had a great start as we headed for the upwind mark. We jockeyed for position in the fleet and gained advantage from the new jib, beating our way to the mark.
An unprecedented three tacks were required to round the mark and set up for the downwind leg. On the down wind leg we remained near our arch rival "Vagrant", with "Hail Yes" the other Catalina 30 far behind us. Approaching the downwind mark we rounded with about 130 yards behind "Vagrant". As we approached the upwind mark, we saw the mark had moved down river 300 yards We approached on a starboard tack, which slowed the boat because we needed to pinch to get through the distance between the mark and pile. "Hail Yes" came screaming towards us on port tack (we had right of way). To avoid collision I hove the boat to and allowed "Hail Yes" pass while shouting various profane statements at the oncoming boat. I called for the red flag (protesting the boat maneuver) which was ignored by the passing yacht. We passed the committee boat on the next downwind leg and ensured they saw the red flag. By the time we rounded the last m
ark making way to the finish we had caught up with "Hail Yes!" finishing 1/2 a boat length behind her. We dropped our sails and made way to the committee boat to file our protest. The crew had the traditional pint as we put the boat to bed.
I should note that this was the first race "fingers" failed to sacrifice anything other than a spot of Guinness to the river.
Un-officially we were in 3rd (of three, sounds better than last). The protest was emailed to the race committee at 11:48pm last night just 8 minutes to spare.
Next Thursday we have another chance to climb back on top. Additionally I have registered the syndicate for the SYSCO Solstice Series with special races on the 22nd and 23rd, I will make a request for special crew call next week. The Solstice Series has only 14 boats in the race so there is a good chance for NiSe to place.
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