Crew – Brian, Bob, Seth & RW
Winds: W-SW 6 to 17 kts, 12.2 kt avg.
Current: flood – North Hill 1049
Weather – clear & sunny, beautiful day
Start time 1315 our class
Start/Finish: offshore of Vixen
Course: s/f-Thames River entrance R”2”- Silver Eel – Intrepid – s/f
Distance 8.7 nm
Shrouds: +3, +5, +2

The folks at Thames YC decided on Saturday to postpone the start two hours in the wake of Tropical Storm Hannah, a wise decision.  The outcome was an outstanding day of sailing. Our class was forth to start following two non-spinnakers and the Ensigns. We had a great midline-start at speed in 10 to 12 knots, though within a minute the tiller-extension came off, creating some excitement for a moment or two. A number of boats to starboard of us peeled off on port for clear air while we continued offshore for current; then tacked short of the port layline for the river.

We rounded the windward mark with a good set and were off to the races in a 16 knot reach, just as the spinnaker halyard came uncleated. We lost little time- it dropping only about halfway, as I bore off more downwind as the crew cranked it back up. We then lowered the pole to its lowest position to cope with the tight reach. Two-thirds of the way to Silver Eel with the wind dropping to six knots (the lowest of the day) and backing, we began to worry whether we may need to switch to the genoa prior to the Eel. Yet, it was back to ten when we jibed round Silver Eel for a ten to twelve knot average up to North Hill.

Bearing off around North Hill, we chose to hug the southern shore between the Dumplings, apparently the only boat to do so and made trees on many boats mid-channel. With a timely smooth douse, we rounded inside Irish Lady and another non-spinnaker boat and passed them to windward.

The beat to the finish in 12 to 14 knots with the current was a bit rough at times but fun as we caught a few more of the Ensigns that had started five minutes ahead. 

First Place
Link to chart 

Saturday 08/30/08 

Crew – Brian, Bob, Seth & RW
Winds: NE to SE at 3 to 6 kts
Current: ebb – North Hill 1049, Race Point 1104
Weather – low over cast, occasional light shower
Start time 1105 our class
Start: West Harbor, Finish: Lords MOA
Course: Fishers Island (ccw) – shortened at Lords Passage
Distance 9.85 nm
Shrouds: @ base 

The ebb had just begun as our class (7th to start) beam-reached across the line in a whispering zephyr out of the northeast, all boats struggling to fly their spinnakers.  After experimenting with spinnaker & poling out the genoa wing&wing, we finally got the spinnaker working and reached up between Flat Hammock and South Dumpling, the only boat to take this route.  It worked out well for us, as we arrived at the North Hill bell at noon (wind 4 to 5 kts), on Brer Rabbit, Salud & Euphora’s heels, and ahead of Rusty Nail, Jolly Mon & Street Machine.

Crew: Brian, Bob, Seth & RW
Current: flood - Ram  1000
Winds: SE (165 avg) at 4 to 6 kts
Start/Finish: offshore of Horseshoe
Course: s/f- DM -s/f, *3, Distance: 9.1 nm
Shrouds: @ base

What was supposed to be a three lap windward/leeward course, ended up being a reach-fest, with half the race a close-reach (occassionallly a beat) into a knot and a half current. We would have faired better having a reaching spinnaker on the downwinds, as the angle was a bit tight for our AP, though it would not have made a difference as too much was lost bucking the current on the upwinds, with no opportunity for avoidance.

6th place (last)
Link to chart