Well Damon, we finally got some racing in today. Winds were from the
east in the morning at 10-12 and the seas were pretty flat. We took the
course a little north of the yacht club and set it up only to have the
wind shift 180 degrees on us and blow from the west. After a quick
course change (Eric and I are getting real good at pulling and setting
the anchor on a cruising cat) we were in business.
The rumor yesterday of everyone on the line at once bore out to be true
and a long line was set and a course two posted. What an amazing site!
87 boats on the course this morning all on the line at once for the
start. The racers were fairly aggressive with four boats being flagged
as OCS. It looked as though some local knowledge might be helpful as
local sailor Larry Harteck waxed the fleet in the first race. He was
greeted on the finish line with not only a horn from the signal boat
but with a blast from several spectators air horns as well.
The second race was run in similar conditions with the competitors
being a little more cautious on the line – except one that is. Taylor
Booth took a huge chance with a port start and smoked the entire line.
And Taylor is all of 17 years old. There were quite a few exciting
moments as the fleet rounded the downwind gate, and everyone stayed
much closer together during this race. The finish line provided some
entertainment with some overlap, room at the mark, and port starboard
situations as most everyone came in at the same time.
In race three, the breeze started to lesson and the racers were
struggling to get the race finished. Not much exciting happened other
than a boat that got hit by a gust at the finish line and drifted over
on his side. Finish any way you can, I say.
With the wind dying and large holes forming in the course, the
officials decided to pull anchor in search of some wind. The wind
clocked around again 180 degrees to come out of the east so the race
was on to set a course for the new heading. A course one was called
again and with a clean start everyone took off up wind. A few lucky
ones sailed around “A” mark before a huge hole developed and sucked the
rest of the competitors into a black hole. With giant wind shifts and
monstrous gusts coming down off the mountain range behind us the
abandon race flag was flown and the competitors headed for the beach.
The Spanish team had wine and snacks set up to celebrate the fact that
they have been awarded the venue for the 2006 Tiger Worlds. The Puerto
Rican team was serving rum and cokes just to celebrate being Puerto
Rican. There motor home was easy to find, it had the Puerto Rican flag
hung on it with a picture of three girls in thong bikinis. I just love
how un P.C. Hobie sailing can be some times!
The city has now towed off the motor home Damon. They said it was an
abandoned vehicle. That might have something to do with the fact that
Eric was so diligent in selling the parts off of it. He just couldn’t
close that last deal for the body. I think that it had no wheels had
something to do with it. We got free food (Triscuits and canned squirty
cheese) from the Spaniards, and filled up on free rum and coke from the
Puerto Rican’s so dinner was covered tonight. Oggie, the skipper of the
cruising cat that has been serving as our signal boat, has offered to
let us sleep on the forward tramp tonight. I am a little scared though
Damon. He has the disco ball up and he says I have to dress in the
panda suit for him. Don’t ask, you really don’t want to know.