RACING:

Oh the highs and lows.  Earlier this year (see previous posts on Excuses) I raced and sailed too long a course thus costing myself a few places in the Wednesday night race.  Over the course of July and into August I was much better, even beating out a faster boat on corrected time. In fact I did well enough that I won the 3rd series of Wednesday night races.  July and August sailing is usually pretty crappy; hot, little or no wind but the Wednesday night races have generally been pretty nice.

Two weeks ago was the MARYLAND YACHT CLUB CHALLENGE.  MYC is just down the creek from my marina and they ran a pursuit style race where everyone starts at different times based on your handicap rating for the length of the course.  Slow boats start first, fastest boat last; the idea being that theoretically everyone would finish together.
Rick and Lori were crewing for me and while the skipper almost blew the start and was 10 seconds late for our start time we sailed a good race and held off a late charge upwind and a dying, shifting breeze to take the gun for the NonSpin class.  Only we didn't get the "gun".  The RC didn't realize we were the first NS boat to finish and gave the gun to Caribbean Magic!  


Regardless, that Friday night was the dinner and I got a nice shelf ornament.  We even got a nice write-up in the Capital Gazette.



Then Saturday was the Boatyard Bar and Grill Regatta to benefit CRAB.  72 boats were entered in the various classes and SPIN/NONSPIN.   With George, Bob and Shawn as crew we had a splendid day on the water and finished a respectable 14/42.  Sailed back that evening and rode the flood tide from the Bay Bridge all the way to Sparrows Point.  Beautiful evening, moon rising over the Eastern Shore and a fast ride.
65 miles total for the day.  Phewww!