We had a good start. Larry’s strategy was good. Got all the way to the front of the start line toward sim land marks we had measured previously, then tacked right and headed for the north tower of the GGB. WE HIT 10 knots of boat speed as we crossed the start line. We passed most of the boats in our class before going under the GGB.
Our beautiful flag line became tangled in the back stays. With some effort we corrected this. We changed head sails about 20 miles out as the wind increased that cost us some time. We have now caught with the fleet and are over taking other boats Wind 30 kts Seas 6 ft swells at 15 sec, 4ft wind waves, constantly :) The starboard Bimini solar panel fell prey to the wind, ripping the Bimini. We covered it all with canvass to shelter from the wind. Solar is compromised and the Bimini will be in shreds by Hawaii. When we changed sails outside the gate we put the big Genoa, 135% #3 head-sale which I affectionately call Jenny, lashed to the side rail on the port deck. This is a common practice providing for quicker and easier sales changes when conditions allow. I had the 20:00 - 00:00 watch and at about 22:00 noticed that Jenny was being grabbed by the sea and being pulled in. Marye Ellen was on helm and I went forward to gather Jenny back on deck and lash her down. Wave after wave crashed over the deck as I laid there with one hand around Jenny and the other hand holing on the chainplates of the shrouds. Each time a wave came over it would lift Jenny enough for me to gather more sail on deck. Waves were covering me completely burying me; they were also lifting Jenny. As a particularly large wave hit and covered the deck and me, my only thought was, “Damn I love this!” I felt great. But Jenny was too full over water to bring onboard myself and I was exhausted. Marye Ellen woke up Tim and Seb. We devised a plan to gather Jenny in her sail bag from the aft, or clew, and stuff her in her bag releasing only one sail tie at a time until Jenny was safely in her bag and in the sail locker. This worked, and after time we had her safely stowed. Fair winds, Russ |
AuthorRuss is the Captain of Blue Moon. He loves the ocean, sailing, diving, and talking about what he does :-) Archive
August 2019
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