Yesterday was the third of the SYSCO Summer Series. Our crew for the race was "Hit the Buoy" O'Shea, "Bossman" Aldridge, "Grinder" Miller, "Wonderboy" Reina, and "Fingers" Rhodes. The lessons from last week in getting to the boat on time paid off, we were there in plenty of time. The boat was rigged and we were off to the Race Committee boat to be registered. On our first pass of the committee boat they had yet to raise the course numbers. We were exceeding disappointed because we actually remembered the map and could wait to try our skills at once more. After passing the committee boat we raised sails. Scanning the horizon our two competitors "Vagrant" and "Hail Yes!" had made it to the race course and were ready. As time passed the committee boat raised the come within hail flag and once more we passed their boat. Although the courses for the 1-4 fleet were clearly labeled with fixed letters, the committee decided to write out the courses for the 5, and 6 fleets. Reading it was nearly impossible so we opt'ed for following the others to the first mark.
As the count down of the start approached we had set up on port tack; having once again an excellent start ahead of the majority of the fleet. The skipper select to go the Oregon side of the river holding first tack as long as possible as others tacked off to port tack heading for the upwind mark. As we neared the mark we crossed to the other side river, noticing that we had lost ground allowing 2/3s of the fleet to pass us, including both of the other Catalina 30s. When the first half of the fleet rounded the mark they bunched up blocking each others wind to the downwind mark. Seizing the opportunity we swung around buoy passing "Hail Yes!" and falling right on "Vagrant" stern (within 5 feet).
On customary playlist of Irish Classic Songs boomed through the stereo as the crew of the "NiSe" sung along, distracting many in the fleet. What they didn't notice was the wind was shifting from behind us to our port. "Wonderboy" was the first to notice as the wind shift caused an accidental jibe. In an accidental jibe the wind takes the mainsail and pushes swiftly through a 180 degree rotation. Anyone in the path of the boom is subject to serious pain. Needless to say "Wonderboy" was standing in front of the boom to prevent accidental jibes. So as the boom crossed the deck, "Wonderboy" ran trying to beat get out of it's way and we nearly lost him overboard.
The wind shift put us on a reach we trimmed sails and starting moving up in the fleet. By the time we rounded the downwind mark we were right beside "Vagrant", with our nose about 3 feet ahead of his on his windward side. Rules of sailing dictate you must not block your competitor from rounding the mark on the inside if there is overlap which was the case. We allowed them to round first and came up on their windward side, on starboard tack (advantage to us). Both boats traveled to the finish side by side, heeled at 20 degrees, crews eyeing each other. Then we passed the committee boat, "Vagrant" had beat us. I had no been watching the finish rather watching "Vagrant", otherwise I would have noticed we both crossed on the wrong side of the committee boat. "Vagrant" was too wrapped in celebration to notice either. I turned the boat around and headed back for the other side of the committee boat. As I did I saw "Hail Yes" screaming for the finish, but far enough away that we could still place first. Then tragedy struck once again this season I stuck a buoy, this time wrapping the anchor line around the rudder of the boat.
We dropped sails, and the race committee came out to assist. Nothing could get us off the mark, so they tried catching the buoy anchor by dragging another anchor from their boat. Well this ended in a disastrous fashion as that anchor wrapped our rudder as well. Another racer brought out his Zodiac and was eventually able to free us (two hours later). The driver of the Zodiac was from "Free Bowl of Soup", our own Doug Schenk's syndicate. The damage to the boat still needs to be surveyed, so the extent is unknown. The lesson learned is to stay far away from the buoy's.
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