SYSCO Spring Series 2022 Races 1-6

 Race 1 was cancelled due to the visit of POTUS.

Race 2 was abandoned due to the lack of wind.

Race 3 was a "T" course, Start-1-3-Finish.  We had a good start.  Second around 1.  First around 3. First on finish.  Could not get a track, because of technical difficulties.  Both my batteries were dead.  As Monty Python might say "Expired".  I started the engine normally and moved to the pump out slip in RCYC.  Cleaned the starboard side as normal, but when we tried to start the engine, it didn't.  We ended up saying, "this is a sailboat.  We are going to a sailboat race.  Let's sail out of the marina and race."  We did.  We even sailed back into the marina without mishap.  

Race 4 was a "TT" course, Start-1-3-1-3-Finish.  We had a poor start and never really caught up. We finished last, about a boat length behind WildHeart.  We had trouble getting the sails trimmed after tacking.  The wind was 10 knots.  I replaced the batteries the following day.

Race 5 was a "T" course.  The wind was about 7 knots.  We had a lousy start.  We finally crossed the start line when the prep-flag was raised the the next start.   We went to a port tack after taking forever to get around the start mark.   We managed to catch up to third place WildHeart at 1.  We rounded the mark right behind everyone.  All four of us sauntered downwind trading the lead.  La Dolce Vita (LDV) staid up nearer the channel and managed to pass everyone and round the leeward mark first.  But they went straight to starboard tack after the mark.  We rounded second and went to port tack and staid it until we could make the finish mark.  Meanwhile LDV was a few boat lengths along their route.  But they needed to tack to cross the finish line.  When they tacked we were in their way on starboard tack with rights.  They had to do a quick tack to starboard to avoid us.  Their tack was too soon the make the mark and they tried to pinch up to cross the finish line.  They snagged the mark and were stuck on it for some time.  Meanwhile boats were finishing using LDV as the finish mark.


Race 6 was at "B" course, Start-1-5-1-Finish.  The wind was very light and caused a delay in the starts.  When it came up, it was 4 to 6 knots with gusts to 10.  The race committee started the race sequence about 6:50.  We started about 7:10.  Blew Streak and us started abreast on starboard tack in light airs.  We were starboard and upwind of Blew Streak and inched ahead and kept gaining distance on them.  The wind got lighter and lighter until we were within 5 boat lengths of the windward mark.  Then the mark started running away from us.  We dropped anchor at 15 boat lengths from the mark.  We sat for about 10 minutes watching the fleet behind us get further and further away.  The wind came up for a moment and it looked like we could go up river again.  But, when we did pull the anchor all we could do was go across the river and not make any ground on the mark.  We dropped the anchor again.  Then Poncho came by with the abandon race flag.  We started the engine and pulled the anchor for the second time and put the sails away.

We place first for the series.  That's what we get for getting a new main sail this season.

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