RAF

My second sail was the 2010 Spring Round the Island race. It was a beautiful day for the annual Club race around Centre Island. The winds were light from the east. We were the first start. Jim and Chris were out in their J22s and Nick had a J24. Chris was I believe with some new crew. I was happy to have Melissa, Jamie and Claudiu as crew. The start used Dufferin as pin.

We had a good start, at mid line, with the other Js. We were very close to Flawed Logic (I think), who started nearer the committee boat. At crossings we were ahead, then they were ahead. Jim stayed closer to our track but a bit further west. Jamie said that they had sailed into a wind well and by our next crossing we had gained. As we approached Gibraltar we were slightly to windward (on Jim) and we were able to continue to gain. They had to tack away. At Gibraltar we were clear ahead of the other J22s.

We went further south on port. The next mark was almost due windward and the wind closer to shore did not look good. We continued to gain on Jim; I lost track of Chris. Nick was clear ahead. We basically followed Nick, but at a distance.

Wind was very light in the lee of the spit. However we were able to keep up way and there was no problem getting through the Eastern gap. We planned to raise the spinnaker as soon as possilbe. The last leg through the Harbour was are only chance for a spin run. As a former Harboursider, the harbour is where I learned to fly the chute; my desire to fly the chute whenever possible earned me the nickname 'spinard'.

We observed that Nick wasn't flying the chute. Why? If there was a proscription from flying the chute we would be protested. I definitely entered the FS division. Notorious was flying their gennacker. There must be two division! It wasn't until we returned to the club that I was told that there was no spinnaker flying in the harbour. It was in the SIs. Wow, no harbour spinnakers, that would've certainly destroyed the fun a being a Harboursider! I of course withdrew; RAF, Retired after finish.