First Sail of the Season

[lustyslogger]

Last Saturday, the 17th, I went on my first sail of the 2016 sailing season. It was actually a club race called the Wyse Wace after one the founding members of the club, Kirk Wyse. I wasn't going to go on the race since I am horrible at it but my intentions were to set up a little picnic for when the racers did come back in. I arrived at the dock 30 minutes after the race officially began thinking that everyone was out and therefore no one would be there to harass me about not joining in. However, when I arrived the Commodore Emeritus came running up to me saying he couldn't get his motor started to get away from the dock and could we go out in my boat. Against my better judgement I relented and said "sure". This was a pursuit race and although I was 30 minutes after the beginning of the race I was only 15 minutes off my actual starting time so out we went. The race covered a course of approximately 12 miles on the rhumb line but since it was upwind all the way to "Goat Island (the mid point) we actually covered closer to 15 miles sailing. We did manage to finish 7th out of 8 boats for what was my first race ever in my own boat.

I don't really enjoy the intensity of racing. I like to just get out and go where the wind will take me at a pace where I can just sit there. However, the boat was moving at a steady 5 kts, the temps were in the mid 70's and I was far enough behind to give the illusion that I was just out on a leisurely sail. It was a good day.