Flying Circus Update
I wanted to make sure that Flying Circus kept racing while I was away on vacation because not competing hurts series scores even when you can discard the worst one-third of your scores. So, I asked Bill, an ex-Fleet 43 owner, to sail in the Pilot Regatta and gave Scott the helm for the Wednesday we were away. Bill was 4th of 6 boats with a 6-4-4-3-4-3, a decent showing considering that he the crew hadn't worked together at all.
Last Wednesday night Scott scored a 1-5-6 and was fifth overall for the night. Needless to say I didn't hear much about the 5-6 but plenty about the 1. When I got back from Bermuda the first message I had on my cellphone was Scott's two minute description of the race, ending with, "So we really don't need you to drive any more". Right then! Well, the bullet was a great result. I don't think I ever got one in the first one or two seasons with the boat. So as a reward I promised him that from now on, whenever I drive a bullet, he gets to helm the next race.
Lo and behold, this past Wednesday we nailed a bullet in the first race. This picture shows how far ahead we were at the leeward mark with only a short beat to the finish line left after rounding. We passed the two top boats in the fleet in the second upwind leg and left everyone in the dust when they bunched up at the windward mark.
So Scott got the helm for race 2 and he absolutely nailed the start. He trapped just about the whole fleet above the committee boat and then stepped on the accelerator at just the right time. We lead for 1 1/2 laps before being passed by Al and Mr. Hanky. We let them gybe inside of us and walk up on our air. How many times will I have to record the mental note not to let that happen before I remember it?
So, going into the third race with a 1-3 and a chance to win the race, what do I do? Over early. We didn't go back, the race was scored OCS and we were 5th for the night. Oh well, from a series scoring perspective we'll add a 1-3. Not a bad night's work really. Two weeks left in the first Wednesday night series and its a very tight race for 2nd and 3rd place between Second Chance with 16 points, Flying Circus and Mr. Hanky with 18 points, and Denali with 20 points. Al has a fairly good lead with 12 points. If someboady kidnaps Carter (tactician, part-time helmsman and former collegiate All-American), the rest of have a chance for 1st.
Last Wednesday night Scott scored a 1-5-6 and was fifth overall for the night. Needless to say I didn't hear much about the 5-6 but plenty about the 1. When I got back from Bermuda the first message I had on my cellphone was Scott's two minute description of the race, ending with, "So we really don't need you to drive any more". Right then! Well, the bullet was a great result. I don't think I ever got one in the first one or two seasons with the boat. So as a reward I promised him that from now on, whenever I drive a bullet, he gets to helm the next race.
Lo and behold, this past Wednesday we nailed a bullet in the first race. This picture shows how far ahead we were at the leeward mark with only a short beat to the finish line left after rounding. We passed the two top boats in the fleet in the second upwind leg and left everyone in the dust when they bunched up at the windward mark.
So Scott got the helm for race 2 and he absolutely nailed the start. He trapped just about the whole fleet above the committee boat and then stepped on the accelerator at just the right time. We lead for 1 1/2 laps before being passed by Al and Mr. Hanky. We let them gybe inside of us and walk up on our air. How many times will I have to record the mental note not to let that happen before I remember it?
So, going into the third race with a 1-3 and a chance to win the race, what do I do? Over early. We didn't go back, the race was scored OCS and we were 5th for the night. Oh well, from a series scoring perspective we'll add a 1-3. Not a bad night's work really. Two weeks left in the first Wednesday night series and its a very tight race for 2nd and 3rd place between Second Chance with 16 points, Flying Circus and Mr. Hanky with 18 points, and Denali with 20 points. Al has a fairly good lead with 12 points. If someboady kidnaps Carter (tactician, part-time helmsman and former collegiate All-American), the rest of have a chance for 1st.
posted by bearaway at 6:56 AM
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