Buzzards Bay, Day 15

Today is the last day of racing. Biggest lesson learned yesterday was, while fast is good, the real goal is faster. Dragging the remnants of my physical being out of bed at 6:00 in the morning to coming to Uncle John’s Coffee and Cafe to write this stuff was very ambitious this morning. I am here, but I am very whiny.

Four races yesterday, each consisting of 4 legs 1 mile long,  Had a good start in the first race,  stayed in or near the lead to the windward and almost to the leeward mark, then jibed too early and found myself too far above the leeward mark to round it with any style at all. While everybody passed me I began to rant, a real tantrum, which by the way is very slow on the race course. I stayed slow for the next two races, whine, whine. It seemed just impossible to find a groove. The wind was light, and I was out of touch. I spent a good bit of time abusing the crew, which is not only slow, it was undeserved. I apologize guys. Yes, I can be a real jerk, a poor sport, and mean, not to mention loud, profane, and many other uncomplimentary adjectives. Good thing I’m so pretty.

The light air was kicking my ass, our starts were slow and nothing was working, until the last race. It occurred to me that the race committee was really making an effort to keep a square start line, so starting in the pile at the committee boat was unimportant. Reaching a little more toward the pin end got us started with good boat speed and the ever elusive clear air. The breeze had freshened a bit and the Cannon started to stretch her legs. I had missed every shift so far that day so I just went to the port lay line and tacked. Simple rules work well for simple minds. Things like, start first and don’t let anybody pass you, don’t pinch, don’t pinch, don’t pinch, you can’t win by following, and put the freaking battens in the jib… We managed to stay fast in the last race and actually finished first, a much more pleasing scenario. Later, at the Beverly Yacht Club I realized that I was probably the only one that was disappointed that the race committee decided not to run a fifth race. Shortly after that when the adrenalin quit pumping, my whining factor cubed itself based on muscle rigor and a reintroduction to main-sheet elbow. I realized that I was fine with four races.

Looks like today maybe a good sailing day weather wise. Probably get wet but the temp is supposed to be above 70. Start first…

-wb-