Well, we had a bit of everything. Swimmers, a phantom boat, potential storm, no wind, delays, buoy being hooked and finally some really great racing and close finishes. We ran course# 2 (start, #3, #10, finish).
The wind was really light, or should we say non-existent prior to the start. Boats were just bobbing up and down. We choose to delay the start 10 minutes, then another 10 minutes. We would have delayed for another 10 minutes but a sniff of wind was detected and we decided to start at 7:20 PM. That first leg was quite slow but the boats at least were moving. By the second leg there was a bit more wind as it filled in from the north. The final leg was an upwind leg into a moderate wind to the mark with a few close finishes. Merry Ann overtook Jolly Mon near the finish to gain first place. Jubilee sailed a beautiful race to take fourth. Pandemonium had to work hard to pass Jubilee on the last leg for third place. There was some great action between Czech Mate, Mo’Sun and Derailed for fifth place. Czech Mate and Derailed were on starboard tack sailing west approaching the finish. Czech Mate was holding off the challenge from Derailed. Mo’Sun was on port tack sailing north. As the three boats converged, Mo’Sun tacked just to leeward of the two boats. Czech Mate had the momentum and claimed the prize and Mo’Sun was able to hold off Derailed.
Special thanks to Derailed for helping the Committee Boat (Integrity). Matt on Derailed thought it would be a nice gesture to retrieve the yellow buoy and relieve the Committee boat of that responsibility. Maybe it wasn’t actually his intention. As Derailed crossed the finish line somehow the buoy was following close behind. Thank you Matt for bringing the buoy back to the gazebo early. For those boats behind Derailed, the buoy was missing because Derailed had snared it.
During the 20 minute delay, several crewmembers on Aleboat decided to take a swim in the crystal clear waters of the Great South Bay. At least it was wet and cooler than the scorching heat while the boats were bobbing up and down. During the race Eric Winberry apparently commented that he felt like Aleboat was a little sluggish in the really light wind, almost as if he was dragging something. Just a comment for future races, if you take a swim just before a race, remember to put up your swim ladder. Just sayin!
We had a phantom boat racing with us Tuesday. All we knew about this boat was sail# 115. As Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid said, “who are those guys.” Turns out “those guys” are Ian Holzmacher and his Pearson 35 “Wanderlust.” We welcome new participants in the BSIR although we ask that a boat is registered before they race with us. They are completing the registration process and next time we will know “who those guys are.” Looking forward to Wanderlust registering and racing with us.
Final thoughts. There was thunder, lightning, rain and storms in the forecast. None of that occurred. Instead we had an interesting evening of racing in Bay Shore and a beautiful sunset. Next week Merry Ann is Committee Boat.
See you Tuesday
Gary and Ted
