Three years on WHARF RAT, the CS 40 I used to race on and the past 4 years on our CS 36M.
In 2014 we came in second but that was tainted by a protest that had no validity, yet left a sour taste in our mouths. And to really piss us off, we got booed when we were given the 2nd place award.
So in 2015 we went back looking to kick some butt and loaded up with some heavy weight crew (size and sailing ability). It was a typical CONNIE CUP day; blustery and overcast. Carol had even asked a young woman from her work to come along. Caitlin had sailed on dinghys but not big boats and brought her boyfriend who had never sailed.
On the upwind leg towards Ft. McHenry we saw apparent wind speeds in the mid 20's. Reefing down the main, but not furling the jib we started to pull away from INFRARED which had been catching up. Turning the mark by the Fort I looked back and saw a Tartan 40 closing rapidly.
Fortunately we made it around the mark with a decent lead and then had to make 11 tacks in a tacking duel to the finish at the Inner Harbor. Sailing each tack as close as we dared to each side we got a huge lift right at the finish and crossed the line 1 min ahead of the Tartan. Just about the time I said, "what, no gun?" (first to finish traditionally gets a gun), they fired the cannon off the deck of the CONSTELLATION and the whole harbor shook! Needless to say we were quite happy. We finished first in the Fin Keel Class, First Overall and got to keep the perpetual trophy half hull model of the Connie for a year.
Oh, and the boyfriend who had never sailed? Caitlin emailed Carol the next week and said he was terrified... but had a blast!
This summer everyone was at our house for our annual summer party so we had to take a picture with the perpetual trophy! Pete, Greg, me, Carol, Dave, Bob (l-r)
We will be back looking to defend this year!
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