SSYC Goosebumps 2017, Race 3

Cake or Death cast from our slip around 12:20 and made way to the GB committee boat. Breeze forecast was for SW 10-25kn but the conditions in the starting area were more 5-15kn. Decision constipation was in full effect regarding canvas. We dipped our toe in with the genoa and felt comfortable enough as the puffs were spread well apart with averages well within genoa’s effective range. The committee chose a predicable AGC, Freeway, Aurora course, 2 laps and laid the start line just south of the Lake Union Sea Ray speed lane.

Shortly after starting, breeze at the top end of our genoa limit (bigger boats relishing in the building breeze)

Of course, within 2 minutes to the start the breeze was steadily up beyond 10kn and puffs were starting to compress. We had a great mid-line start but struggled to maintain point and speed with the soft and baggy genoa. A handful of bigger and heavier boats had overtaken us by AGC.

Westlake shore relief approaching AGC

At the AGC rounding we put up our chicken chute and tried to claw our way back to the leaders, most of whom didn’t hoist flying nylon in the building breeze. Unfortunately a non-flying Catalina 32 decided to park on our wind for most of the leg and yelled absurdities at us about needing water and that we were getting too close. First, we were the leeward boat. Second, each time the Catalina parked on our breeze and killed our kite she became the overtaking boat. Third, we were in the middle of the lake – you have all the water you need. A wipeout would likely have been supplemented with a T-bone.

Not a lot of kites going up (and the Catalina behind casting a shadow on Chicken Little)

Ultimately we could, and should, have gybed to clear our air but the leg was super short and we needed most of it to swap to the #2 headsail – which in retrospect the #2 was still the wrong sail. Reaching across the Aurora mark the wind was now steadily 20kn and whitecaps were scattered across the lake. Tacking at the mark we hauled the blade on deck and prepared for a bareheaded change, still struggling with point and frequent stalling. We hammered on the flattening reef, tacked behind the nemesis Catalina, and sent up the blade.

Fisch and Nicole readying the blade on our bow. After the hoist we were too quick to be captured by still photography :-)

Whole new world.

Once sheets were tied on and car leads dialed in we took off to weather. Speeds were steady between 5.3-5.5kn roaring into AGC and leaving the Catalina in the dust. There was some discussion as to whether we should put the kite back up but ultimately sided with a whisker pole and blade combination that was plenty powered up for the run to freeway.

For as quick as the breeze came on it began to soften after rounding the freeway mark. In addition, the committee boat had drug anchor during the race. This made the finish line super skewed and the beat was no longer tactical. Furthermore, the backing breeze provided relief to the several over-canvassed boats ahead from being overtaken by our super dialed upwind machine. In the end Cake or Death took a respectable 7th out of 22 finishers and 28 participants in the 2nd start. The success of the day ultimately was being prepared for and thriving in conditions others struggled mightily with. 

Becker's arm was too tired from all the pre-race dumbbell pumps so he had Fisch take the crew Selfie

As always, credit to the crew with Nicole and Fisch dressing up the pointy end, Becker handing out tickets to the gun show, Caleb fine tuning tension and handing out cold snacks, Silecia successfully interpreting sparse instructions, and Kyle keeping the kite under the hull.

Has it really been two years since I've posted a blog recap? Good grief I've gotten lazy.