HOT RUM RACE WEEKEND 2 - NOVEMBER 23-24, 2002
After a really good practice on Saturday where we got comfortable with bear away sets, practiced our jibes, and did several successful takedowns, and got to try out our new kelp stick, we were ready to be much more competitive in race 2.
The wind looked like it was going to pick up and we got away from the dock on time. Soon we were right in the thick of things and timed our start perfectly. As we approached the start, however, the wind began to die.
At our start time, we were right where we wanted to be, but so was everyone else. We were in a complete parking lot with First Light on our left and several other boats all around us within just a few feet, we had Warren Gross's Silhouette on our right, being squeezed into the Committee boat.
We let Warren slip through (being nice) and for a long time we were not moving at all.
Like other boats around us, we decided it was time to fly the chute to get a little bit of momentum as what little breeze there was had shifted to offshore.
We really weren't able to fill the spinnaker very well, so we went back to the jib. It didn't help much though and we eventually had to hold it out with our kelp stick!
Michele thought she saw a breeze in one direction but it was just a boat wake.
Just when we were beginning to move (I think we got into the current), we heard two blasts in a row from behind us. Mercifully, the committee ended the race and the race was over before it even really started.
We had a good time anyway and it was still a confidence builder for the crew. At least we made it to the after party on time!
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