Offshore Spring Series 1: Read all About It
on Thursday April 18, 2013 01:54PM
Sunday's Spring Series #1 proved to be an exciting day of racing, kicking off the series under sunny skies and varying breezes. After nearly an hour AP from the lack of winds, the Race Committee found breezes in the 5-8 knot range out of 060 degrees. A W4 course was established with 1.2 nm legs.
PHRF A started the day at 11:55 followed by rolling starts for PHRF B, C, and Non-Spin. In race 1, many boats went left expecting a right shift and lift to the weather mark. That did not pan out as the fleets split, with roughly half breaking away onto a port tack. To add to the challenge, many over stood with an unexpected left shift at the weather mark. This is sailboat racing after all - if it was easy and predictable, what's the point? By the third leg, the wind started to build and the right shift finally arrived. Set and jibe became the rule at the weather mark for most on the final downwind leg.
By race 2, the wind had picked up to nearly 15 knots and held steady at 060 degrees. White caps were on the horizon and the excitement was building. Several boats went to a #2 headsail expecting the winds to stick. The conditions were representative of a typical Spring Day on the Chesapeake. But all good things must end and the winds began to abate. Those who went left got stuck in a hole, going right really paid off. PHRF A and B finished relatively quickly but by the third leg of PHRF C the winds were back in the 5 knot range.
For race 1 Afterthought (PHRF A) had the best corrected time, followed by Play it Again in PHRF C, and then Mad Hatter in PHRF B. Not bad for Mad Hatter considering the 20 year old sails on that boat were slowly creating "windows" throughout the day, requiring duct tape. By Race 2, PHRF A really took advantage of the higher winds with Afterthought once again earning the best corrected time followed by Double Eagle and Wavelength.