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Cheers - Bryan
Corinthian Race 2020
- Thread starter Philpott
- Start date
Lightspeed
Willpower
I just noticed that is also sail a small boat day at RYC. Going to be a full house...
Philpott
Cal 2-27 Dura Mater
Invitation from the Corinthian Yacht Club
Participants in the SSS Corinthian Race this year are invited back to the clubhouse for food and drinks. No, not free food and drinks, but we are invited as guests to partake of the Corinthian hospitality. Ask Michael Chammout. It's true! We are also invited to raft up and spend the night. Seriously! So, raise your yacht club burgees, (or borrow your friends' burgees) and stay over after the race. Remember to thank the Corinthian again for its hospitality over the years. They host us for this race and have done so for the SHTP for a long long time.
Participants in the SSS Corinthian Race this year are invited back to the clubhouse for food and drinks. No, not free food and drinks, but we are invited as guests to partake of the Corinthian hospitality. Ask Michael Chammout. It's true! We are also invited to raft up and spend the night. Seriously! So, raise your yacht club burgees, (or borrow your friends' burgees) and stay over after the race. Remember to thank the Corinthian again for its hospitality over the years. They host us for this race and have done so for the SHTP for a long long time.
BobJ
Alerion 38 "Surprise!"
E-mail exchange this morning with Steve Katzman - Express 27 Dianne:
On Sunday, March 1, 2020, 08:48:59 AM PST, Steve Katzman <[email protected]> wrote:
Hello Bob, Good crossing tacks with you during that hellish beat up the city front. I was glad to wave you across. It's the corinthian thing to do.
Any word about a boat on the rocks just east of the GGYC ?
That was Hedgehog, Dave Herrigel's boat.
Dave stopped by the club last night and told us what happened. He had just tacked out from shore and was on port, and a double-handed class boat (Express 27 or Moore) on starboard forced him to tack back in. The angles were such that he couldn't duck the boat and being singlehanded, Dave couldn't power back up quickly enough before he lost steerage and drifted into the rocks.
I had a couple incidents on that beat that could have ended the same way. Not all the double-handers were as accommodating as you, so thanks! Many of them don't understand what it takes to singlehand in those conditions or don't seem to care.
I purposely chose to make longer tacks out into the flood to reduce the port-starboard encounters, but this compromised my results on that leg. Similarly, when most of the fleet chose Raccoon Strait after rounding Southampton, I tacked and went back around the south side of Angel Island to avoid the majority of the fleet.
So what you have is the more experienced singlehanders purposely compromising their races to accommodate the large numbers of double-handers. This is pretty frustrating considering it's the Singlehanded Sailing Society.
Dave says he's done with racing against double-handers in these races, especially where they're class boats for whom the race is a season counter. I've been there too. SSS will have to change some things or it will lose the remaining single-handers who form the nucleus of the club, provide the leadership, etc.
Dave was hoping to do another Singlehanded Transpac this year, had entered the race and was well along in his preparations.
If you're willing, please pass this along to the Express 27 class. Dave doesn't know if it was an Express 27 who forced him into the rocks but given the numbers, it likely was.
Thanks again,
Bob J.
On Sunday, March 1, 2020, 08:48:59 AM PST, Steve Katzman <[email protected]> wrote:
Hello Bob, Good crossing tacks with you during that hellish beat up the city front. I was glad to wave you across. It's the corinthian thing to do.
Any word about a boat on the rocks just east of the GGYC ?
That was Hedgehog, Dave Herrigel's boat.
Dave stopped by the club last night and told us what happened. He had just tacked out from shore and was on port, and a double-handed class boat (Express 27 or Moore) on starboard forced him to tack back in. The angles were such that he couldn't duck the boat and being singlehanded, Dave couldn't power back up quickly enough before he lost steerage and drifted into the rocks.
I had a couple incidents on that beat that could have ended the same way. Not all the double-handers were as accommodating as you, so thanks! Many of them don't understand what it takes to singlehand in those conditions or don't seem to care.
I purposely chose to make longer tacks out into the flood to reduce the port-starboard encounters, but this compromised my results on that leg. Similarly, when most of the fleet chose Raccoon Strait after rounding Southampton, I tacked and went back around the south side of Angel Island to avoid the majority of the fleet.
So what you have is the more experienced singlehanders purposely compromising their races to accommodate the large numbers of double-handers. This is pretty frustrating considering it's the Singlehanded Sailing Society.
Dave says he's done with racing against double-handers in these races, especially where they're class boats for whom the race is a season counter. I've been there too. SSS will have to change some things or it will lose the remaining single-handers who form the nucleus of the club, provide the leadership, etc.
Dave was hoping to do another Singlehanded Transpac this year, had entered the race and was well along in his preparations.
If you're willing, please pass this along to the Express 27 class. Dave doesn't know if it was an Express 27 who forced him into the rocks but given the numbers, it likely was.
Thanks again,
Bob J.
Thanks to Bob for posting the above.
I am willing to pass this along to my Express 27 fleet and will do so.
I have long enjoyed doing the SSS races. I do them doublehanded, with the exception of the Vallejo I. I admire singlehanders, but racing singlehanded is not my cup of tea. I love racing my Express 27 double handed in the SSS events. While racing these events it has been my pleasure to modify my racing to accomodate those racing singlehanded. I do not push the limits at mark roundings or crossings with singlehanded boats. I take more then my usual cautions to avoid confrontations and collisions.
The SSS races are some of the best offered. They offer interesting distance courses. They are priced fairly. Lots of bang for the buck. It would be a great loss to have the SSS close their racing to the E27 fleet. We can modify our behavior on the race course and prevent that loss.
My heart goes out to Dave Herrigel. I saw Hedgehog being pounded on the rocks. It was a sight from a nightmare of any boatowner. SDK
I am willing to pass this along to my Express 27 fleet and will do so.
I have long enjoyed doing the SSS races. I do them doublehanded, with the exception of the Vallejo I. I admire singlehanders, but racing singlehanded is not my cup of tea. I love racing my Express 27 double handed in the SSS events. While racing these events it has been my pleasure to modify my racing to accomodate those racing singlehanded. I do not push the limits at mark roundings or crossings with singlehanded boats. I take more then my usual cautions to avoid confrontations and collisions.
The SSS races are some of the best offered. They offer interesting distance courses. They are priced fairly. Lots of bang for the buck. It would be a great loss to have the SSS close their racing to the E27 fleet. We can modify our behavior on the race course and prevent that loss.
My heart goes out to Dave Herrigel. I saw Hedgehog being pounded on the rocks. It was a sight from a nightmare of any boatowner. SDK
Talking with David, HEDGEHOG was on the rocks for about 20 minutes, time enough to sustain substantial damage to the stem and keel. Fortunately the rudder is undamaged. HEDGEHOG is now hauled and being prepped for repair...David feels that if he had not crash tacked back to starboard, he would have T-boned the offending starboard tack yacht amidships, as it was too close to safely bear away to duck and take its stern. In this case the starboard tacker is burdened and obligated to give HEDGEHOG sea room. Unfortunate beyond words.
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tiger beetle
N/M 45 Tiger Beetle
I sail a relatively large heavy boat that doesn't tack anything like a smaller ultralight - a N/M 45 ain't gonna short tack equally with the smaller faster quicker-to-accelerate boats, especially when one-handed. I hated the short-tack up the city front on the SSS Corinthian, and eventually stopped sailing that race in favor of joining Race Committee. If it wasn't the doublehanders in our race, it was the St. Francis Knarr boats out doing battle and they were even better armed with 3 people on the boat and would give no quarter - I've been shouted at several times over the years that they were 'racing' and I should avoid them - and they had no idea I was racing as well.
In terms of preserving the course, would it work if the singlehanders could round towards Southampton at the Fort Mason buoy (if it still exists)? - this would avoid the need to short-tack the city front all the way to Blackaller.
Ultimately I scaled back SSS racing Beetle to Three Bridge, the ocean (SSS Farallones, Half Moon Bay), and Vallejo - wonderful destination race. The other in-the-bay short course races were too congested to be safely done on Beetle as a singlehander. If you removed the doublehanders there would be plenty of room - but I'm not sure that's a fair or a good idea - the SSS caters to doublehanders and doublehanding is a gateway race into SSS Farallones, then LongPac, and next thing you know you're on your way to Hawaii - gotta watch out!
Dave - I hope Hedgehog comes out OK and you can still make SSS TransPac. Rocks are a nasty business, I would hate to think what would happen to Beetle in those conditions.
- rob/beetle
In terms of preserving the course, would it work if the singlehanders could round towards Southampton at the Fort Mason buoy (if it still exists)? - this would avoid the need to short-tack the city front all the way to Blackaller.
Ultimately I scaled back SSS racing Beetle to Three Bridge, the ocean (SSS Farallones, Half Moon Bay), and Vallejo - wonderful destination race. The other in-the-bay short course races were too congested to be safely done on Beetle as a singlehander. If you removed the doublehanders there would be plenty of room - but I'm not sure that's a fair or a good idea - the SSS caters to doublehanders and doublehanding is a gateway race into SSS Farallones, then LongPac, and next thing you know you're on your way to Hawaii - gotta watch out!
Dave - I hope Hedgehog comes out OK and you can still make SSS TransPac. Rocks are a nasty business, I would hate to think what would happen to Beetle in those conditions.
- rob/beetle
solosailor
New member
What a horrible experience, my stomach is in knots reading this. I have been put into precarious situations more times that I can recall with over aggressive doublehanders. There is a thing called "room and opportunity" that should be observed as single-handers are slower to respond in general. Hopefully it is not a total loss. As the dearly departed Joakim used to tell me...... anything composite can get rebuilt with enough time, resin, and beer.
captleasure
New member
Wow! So so sorry to hear that it was Hedgehog that went up on rocks! Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help with the repairs and get things sorted to make Hedgehog ready for the SHTP start still?
Maybe others can rally too and we could have some SSS work crew weekends to help to expedite things?
I had a near miss just after I crossed the start line of the 3BF this year with a Santana 22 (double handed) coming at me on a Port tack so I had to turn the engine on to head up for a minute to avoid crushing him. The winds were so light I had no other option in those split seconds. I was on Starboard and had rights. If I was hardcore, I could’ve filed a protest but knew the winds were going to go super light and me finishing was unlikely. The little light racing boats don’t get that a full keel boat can’t just turn on a dime! I’m going to make a sign to put on the bow, “If you can read this, you’re about to become matchsticks”
But seriously, some of the one design racers do get too aggressive and need to dial it down.
The race this weekend is literally called the Corinthian!
As far as my race yesterday, It was a beautiful day but with the light shifty winds off the CYC made getting up and around the start pin a bit of a challenge for a Tortuga. I had to duck another boat at the start (I was on port) and then lost enough ground that when I tacked back on Starboard I wasn’t going to make the pin so had to fall off, jibe and run for the start line again to get up and around. Once we were able to tack out into the wind in the central bay, we had a great sail across the bay and a beautiful run down to Blossom Rock buoy. At that point It was breeze on with winds in the 20s. So once I reefed down and rounded the mark to start the bash up the city to Blackaller, I decided I didn’t want to do that and my home port of Pier 39 was close by, so called it a day! Short tacking a 20k+ lbs boat in a big breeze is chore and not something I had been looking forward to. I heard the radio calls about the boat on the rocks of GGYC and called it a day.
https://youtu.be/XTXs7wI38sQ
Cheers,
Randy
W32 Tortuga
Maybe others can rally too and we could have some SSS work crew weekends to help to expedite things?
I had a near miss just after I crossed the start line of the 3BF this year with a Santana 22 (double handed) coming at me on a Port tack so I had to turn the engine on to head up for a minute to avoid crushing him. The winds were so light I had no other option in those split seconds. I was on Starboard and had rights. If I was hardcore, I could’ve filed a protest but knew the winds were going to go super light and me finishing was unlikely. The little light racing boats don’t get that a full keel boat can’t just turn on a dime! I’m going to make a sign to put on the bow, “If you can read this, you’re about to become matchsticks”
But seriously, some of the one design racers do get too aggressive and need to dial it down.
The race this weekend is literally called the Corinthian!
As far as my race yesterday, It was a beautiful day but with the light shifty winds off the CYC made getting up and around the start pin a bit of a challenge for a Tortuga. I had to duck another boat at the start (I was on port) and then lost enough ground that when I tacked back on Starboard I wasn’t going to make the pin so had to fall off, jibe and run for the start line again to get up and around. Once we were able to tack out into the wind in the central bay, we had a great sail across the bay and a beautiful run down to Blossom Rock buoy. At that point It was breeze on with winds in the 20s. So once I reefed down and rounded the mark to start the bash up the city to Blackaller, I decided I didn’t want to do that and my home port of Pier 39 was close by, so called it a day! Short tacking a 20k+ lbs boat in a big breeze is chore and not something I had been looking forward to. I heard the radio calls about the boat on the rocks of GGYC and called it a day.
https://youtu.be/XTXs7wI38sQ
Cheers,
Randy
W32 Tortuga
Lightspeed
Willpower
First, my heart goes out to Dave & Hedgehog. If an accomplished SHTP vet and past SSS Commodore can be pressed into this no win situation we need to rethink our purpose.
As a racer and former race chair, I do think we need to rethink some of our races as SSS evolves into the Doublehanded Sailing Society (Shorthanded Sailing Society).
I have an idea of how we can hang onto to our singlehanded past as we see more Doublehanded racers demographics. I would like to propose an idea for SSS to encouraging DH to “learn” and “grow” into SH.
First, we need to except the reality and welcome DH. Second, we need to encourage and challenge the Doublehanders by creating two (or more) separate “Singlehanded Only” races each season (Max, Bob & Rob, I know you have great ideas). I am not sure how to score but we have a great start with Vallejo 1-2.
Bottom line, create incentives to move more DH to SH.
As a racer and former race chair, I do think we need to rethink some of our races as SSS evolves into the Doublehanded Sailing Society (Shorthanded Sailing Society).
I have an idea of how we can hang onto to our singlehanded past as we see more Doublehanded racers demographics. I would like to propose an idea for SSS to encouraging DH to “learn” and “grow” into SH.
First, we need to except the reality and welcome DH. Second, we need to encourage and challenge the Doublehanders by creating two (or more) separate “Singlehanded Only” races each season (Max, Bob & Rob, I know you have great ideas). I am not sure how to score but we have a great start with Vallejo 1-2.
Bottom line, create incentives to move more DH to SH.
captleasure
New member
Looks like someone put up some video on FB. Painful to watch.
https://www.facebook.com/834939745/posts/10159543327989746?sfns=mo
https://www.facebook.com/834939745/posts/10159543327989746?sfns=mo
solosailor
New member
Maybe it's as simple as separating the starting times of the fleets by a large margin (at least an hour) for the in the bay races? Spreading out the fleet should help.
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Clearing my throat...
I'll keep this post to mostly my version of what happened; at this point I really don't have the heart to debate the rest.
But first - Thank you everyone here and in my wider sailing world for all to the messages of support, hugs, and offers of support and assistance.
It makes me proud to be part of this community, and to be able to call you all my friends.
What Happened-
Bob's OP is pretty accurate; as I approached the city front, I noted that I was out of phase with a cluster of 2 E27's and a Moore 24 who were at that point heading out around the point of the seawall that forms the harbor entrance (they had clearly gone all the way into the harbor entrance area seeking current relief).
I passed clear ahead of them on starboard and approached the seawall maybe about 75yards east of the GGYC.
I called for sea room & tacked approx. 3 boat lengths before the wall, and had just completed my tack to port when I checked under the jib to see a starboard tack jib and white hull about a boat length ahead.
That's about all I had time to visually process.
The angle and speed had me T-boning them somewhere forward of the shrouds.
Tried smoking the mainsheet and turning to starboard to duck them, but with little boat speed that wasn't working, so I crash tacked back to port.
that went about as well as could be expected in 22 knots and a 2.5 knot flood - eg I blew it, badly, and before you could say Holy Sh*t i was in irons with no attached flow on the foils moving backwards rapidly.
reversing my helm had zero effect, probably because the current was pretty close to my backward boat speed.
From there, the rest was largely out of my control; the bow blew down to the port side and I basically ended up t-boning the sea wall; you can watch the rest on the video; at some point I will have the courage to, but not right now.
EDIT 03/7 - Adding a bit of detail as to what happened after and how I got off the rocks:
Once I was no longer sailing and firmly wedged/pinned bow in and portside to the rocks, I issued my first (and hopefully last) ever mayday call on 16.
I’m afraid I was a bit short with the watch stander, but I already knew the info they were asking for so I simply spat out my Identity & description, Position, nature of distress, one person on board, no injuries, and that I was requesting immediate assistance towing my vessel off the rocks. I then proceeded to get the sails at least started down… another Image I can’t un-see; looking down from the headstay and clearly seeing a patch of sand between the rocks with the seaweed waving about.
Tow Boat US, with captain Phil Delano and crew were fortunately in the SF Yacht basin, heard my hail, and responded within 5 minutes. We established radio communication on channel 22, they passed me a line which I secured to what I hoped to be the most secure position, the bridging structure that holds the top bearing of my rudder post. Towboat US then pulled my vessel backwards off the rocks. In the process, damage was sustained to the point where the tow had been attached; mostly minor, some cracked cracked fiber glass and broken tabbing.
Once free of the rocks, and I ascertained that there was no immediate water ingress, we hooked up a side tow and Towboat US pulled me inside the breakwater and deposited me at the pump out station. Phil informed me that they were treating this a Salvage, and I would be charged $150/foot. In no position to debate this, I gratefully surrendered my credit card(s) and concluded the transaction.
After decompressing for a few hours, and still seeing no water ingress, I concluded that the best thing to do was to sail back to Richmond where my trailer was conveniently at Brickyard Cove, although I had recently taken a wet slip and RYC (having concluded it was time to sail, and stop mucking about with the hoist, running up to SHTP).
On Sunday I returned, hauled the boat, and got my first real look at the damage... more on that in another thread / post.
Who's to blame?
First, I blame myself.
Poor judgement and risk management but me in the position for the event to occur, and I 100% own that.
To Skip's & Solo's points, yes, the Starboard tack boat was the burdened boat under the RRS and did not give me room or opportunity to maneuver.
That said, I don't know if they even saw me under their lee, or if anyone could hear any hails.
Cold comfort, and I'm not letting myself off the hook for putting myself there in the first place.
Ok, I said at the top I'd stick to the facts, so that's about it for this post, for me.
I'll save my opinions about what the SSS should do about remaining the SINGLEHANDED sailing society for a more rational and less emotional time, but it's heartening to see the start of a discussion and some solid ideas bubbling up.
OK - putting Chumbawamba on repeat.
And heartfelt thanks for everyone singing with me.
I'll post progress and updates elsewhere.
DH
I'll keep this post to mostly my version of what happened; at this point I really don't have the heart to debate the rest.
But first - Thank you everyone here and in my wider sailing world for all to the messages of support, hugs, and offers of support and assistance.
It makes me proud to be part of this community, and to be able to call you all my friends.
What Happened-
Bob's OP is pretty accurate; as I approached the city front, I noted that I was out of phase with a cluster of 2 E27's and a Moore 24 who were at that point heading out around the point of the seawall that forms the harbor entrance (they had clearly gone all the way into the harbor entrance area seeking current relief).
I passed clear ahead of them on starboard and approached the seawall maybe about 75yards east of the GGYC.
I called for sea room & tacked approx. 3 boat lengths before the wall, and had just completed my tack to port when I checked under the jib to see a starboard tack jib and white hull about a boat length ahead.
That's about all I had time to visually process.
The angle and speed had me T-boning them somewhere forward of the shrouds.
Tried smoking the mainsheet and turning to starboard to duck them, but with little boat speed that wasn't working, so I crash tacked back to port.
that went about as well as could be expected in 22 knots and a 2.5 knot flood - eg I blew it, badly, and before you could say Holy Sh*t i was in irons with no attached flow on the foils moving backwards rapidly.
reversing my helm had zero effect, probably because the current was pretty close to my backward boat speed.
From there, the rest was largely out of my control; the bow blew down to the port side and I basically ended up t-boning the sea wall; you can watch the rest on the video; at some point I will have the courage to, but not right now.
EDIT 03/7 - Adding a bit of detail as to what happened after and how I got off the rocks:
Once I was no longer sailing and firmly wedged/pinned bow in and portside to the rocks, I issued my first (and hopefully last) ever mayday call on 16.
I’m afraid I was a bit short with the watch stander, but I already knew the info they were asking for so I simply spat out my Identity & description, Position, nature of distress, one person on board, no injuries, and that I was requesting immediate assistance towing my vessel off the rocks. I then proceeded to get the sails at least started down… another Image I can’t un-see; looking down from the headstay and clearly seeing a patch of sand between the rocks with the seaweed waving about.
Tow Boat US, with captain Phil Delano and crew were fortunately in the SF Yacht basin, heard my hail, and responded within 5 minutes. We established radio communication on channel 22, they passed me a line which I secured to what I hoped to be the most secure position, the bridging structure that holds the top bearing of my rudder post. Towboat US then pulled my vessel backwards off the rocks. In the process, damage was sustained to the point where the tow had been attached; mostly minor, some cracked cracked fiber glass and broken tabbing.
Once free of the rocks, and I ascertained that there was no immediate water ingress, we hooked up a side tow and Towboat US pulled me inside the breakwater and deposited me at the pump out station. Phil informed me that they were treating this a Salvage, and I would be charged $150/foot. In no position to debate this, I gratefully surrendered my credit card(s) and concluded the transaction.
After decompressing for a few hours, and still seeing no water ingress, I concluded that the best thing to do was to sail back to Richmond where my trailer was conveniently at Brickyard Cove, although I had recently taken a wet slip and RYC (having concluded it was time to sail, and stop mucking about with the hoist, running up to SHTP).
On Sunday I returned, hauled the boat, and got my first real look at the damage... more on that in another thread / post.
Who's to blame?
First, I blame myself.
Poor judgement and risk management but me in the position for the event to occur, and I 100% own that.
To Skip's & Solo's points, yes, the Starboard tack boat was the burdened boat under the RRS and did not give me room or opportunity to maneuver.
That said, I don't know if they even saw me under their lee, or if anyone could hear any hails.
Cold comfort, and I'm not letting myself off the hook for putting myself there in the first place.
Ok, I said at the top I'd stick to the facts, so that's about it for this post, for me.
I'll save my opinions about what the SSS should do about remaining the SINGLEHANDED sailing society for a more rational and less emotional time, but it's heartening to see the start of a discussion and some solid ideas bubbling up.
OK - putting Chumbawamba on repeat.
And heartfelt thanks for everyone singing with me.
I'll post progress and updates elsewhere.
DH
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BTW, the guy who posted that video is Tom Ehman, who is more than just "someone" in the local sailing world.
Tom was Head of External Affairs for ORACLE Racing, served as GGYC Vice Commodore and Managing Director of the GGYC America’s Cup Committee back when the GGYC was the Club that Ellison "used" to mount his first A-cup challenge. ....among a mess of other things he's done around the San Francisco waterfront.
Tom was Head of External Affairs for ORACLE Racing, served as GGYC Vice Commodore and Managing Director of the GGYC America’s Cup Committee back when the GGYC was the Club that Ellison "used" to mount his first A-cup challenge. ....among a mess of other things he's done around the San Francisco waterfront.
Philpott
Cal 2-27 Dura Mater
Response to Carol Klammer's first Singlehanded Corinthian Race
Well, Carol, I saw you tack around Blossom Rock, and you did it with aplomb. After DM and I tacked it took me until I was in the lee of Alcatraz before I could get a reef in. I lost track of you after that.
Shortly after the start I saw the future by looking at the earlier starts, and so I tossed the spinnaker bag down into the cabin. I failed, however, to relocate the spinnaker pole, leaving it on the mast. Just as I approached Blackaller and tacked to port my jib sheet caught in the spinnaker pole jaw. I didn't see it happen, but I could hear a BANGBANGBANG, which is, as you know, Carol, never a good sound. A kitesurfer foiled by, the stinker, and he called out "Spin Pole!" That's how I learned that my spinnaker pole was hanging by its downhaul line off the starboard side of the bow. In that nice strong wind. Yeah.
Round Blackaller or lose the pole? Lose the pole or Round Blackaller? Hmmm. I crawled up to the bow and leaned WAY over, while the waves washed over me. But I saved my pole!
By this time, of course, the flood had started and somehow my jib sheets had come loose and were in a tangle around the bottom of my furler. By the time I was able to run new jib sheets and detangle that mess we had been washed back almost to Anita Rock. Fight or flight? Flight or fight?
Finally around Blackaller I headed toward Raccoon Strait, still deeply reefed and with only a tiny bit of jib up front. And what did I face upon reaching Little Harding? Mirthmaker and almost the entire fleet of fast boats headed my way. On starboard.
There were so MANY good reasons to quit and go home that day!
Well, Carol, I saw you tack around Blossom Rock, and you did it with aplomb. After DM and I tacked it took me until I was in the lee of Alcatraz before I could get a reef in. I lost track of you after that.
Shortly after the start I saw the future by looking at the earlier starts, and so I tossed the spinnaker bag down into the cabin. I failed, however, to relocate the spinnaker pole, leaving it on the mast. Just as I approached Blackaller and tacked to port my jib sheet caught in the spinnaker pole jaw. I didn't see it happen, but I could hear a BANGBANGBANG, which is, as you know, Carol, never a good sound. A kitesurfer foiled by, the stinker, and he called out "Spin Pole!" That's how I learned that my spinnaker pole was hanging by its downhaul line off the starboard side of the bow. In that nice strong wind. Yeah.
Round Blackaller or lose the pole? Lose the pole or Round Blackaller? Hmmm. I crawled up to the bow and leaned WAY over, while the waves washed over me. But I saved my pole!
By this time, of course, the flood had started and somehow my jib sheets had come loose and were in a tangle around the bottom of my furler. By the time I was able to run new jib sheets and detangle that mess we had been washed back almost to Anita Rock. Fight or flight? Flight or fight?
Finally around Blackaller I headed toward Raccoon Strait, still deeply reefed and with only a tiny bit of jib up front. And what did I face upon reaching Little Harding? Mirthmaker and almost the entire fleet of fast boats headed my way. On starboard.
There were so MANY good reasons to quit and go home that day!