Line Honours (note should have been posted Sept. 14)

The third AHMEN was on Sept. 13. The wind was from the north at around 10 knots. We had a beam reach start to Mark 1. It is a bit different being on a beam since we could head directly to the first mark. Foehn headed us up but not above close reach. We had power but no longer sailing directly towards the first mark. Foehn bore away. They were over. By being headed up, we took that bit of extra time to be on the start line. We were well ahead of the other boats. A great start.

The first mark was a beam reach; the second leg was almost a dead down wind. We rounded and dropped the chute without any problems. We were now on a long beam reach to T1 at the entrance to the eastern gap. The nice breeze at the start became very light and shifty. According to the archived records the wind dropped to 5 knots. Balance decided to try their chute and were able to make up some ground. We tried as well but the wind seemed to be too far forward and we quickly dropped it. As Balance approached they seemed to loose power; perhaps because of our shadow or perhaps because they were headed and the chute was no longer efficient. We started to gain.

Fantome, in start 4, slowly was overtaking us. We were almost on the T1's layline and I made sure to keep windward. I wanted to prevent the bigger boat from passing to windward and robbing us of wind. We were far enough ahead to be able to do this. After the rounding there was no longer a problem. We separated; Fantome's wind shadow was no longer a threat.

The winds seemed to pick up as we headed back to Gilbaltor. When we headed into Humber Bay proper the winds were gusty. Gusts may have been up to 15 knots. It was pretty much a question of keeping the boat as flat as possible and avoiding any rounding up in the gusts. It made it a bit exhausting as I constantly had to adjust the sheet, traveler, and tiller; while squatting, as much windward as I could. An uncomfortable position for a long race.

We obviously did well as we finished well ahead of Balance. Windlight finished third but in corrected time, was able to get second place. Another great day on the water. Great start; led the entire race! Getting line honours when you are not the fastest boat in a division is always a great race.