RACING ON ISLE RUN

Got a call the other day from my ol' sailing instructor Dave (old, not in age but in long time ago instructor) who asked if I wanted to crew for him in a race on Sunday.  In checking my schedule I had two choices, (1) get up at 5:30 am and ride my bike for 50 miles and be wiped out for the rest of the day or (2) sleep in till whenever, eat a leisurely breakfast, get to the yacht club by 11:00, sail till we crossed the finish line, drink beer.  I was really torn because I usually don't drink beer, but I decided to make an exception.  Also it should be noted that it was Dave and his crew on Isle Run who came in 1st two weeks ago in the NOOD and trounced us on the Sabbatical.  I figured I could pick up some pointers. (see previous entry).   I also was aware that Dave might be asking me to crew so he could find some inside information from a crew member of the Sabbatical.  It was an opportunity for me to perhaps provide him with some false scuttlebutt giving the Sabbatical an advantage for next year.

DAVE AT THE HELM

The race was to be 11 miles from start to finish and our closest competition was to get a huge head start.  Due to handicapping they got a full 21 minute head start and in order for us to beat them we had to pick up that 21 minutes plus cross the finish line a minute and a half ahead of them.  A tall order on a day with changing wind direction.  With a staggered start there was no confusion at the start line as the other boats in our class left before us.

RHONDA DOING HER JOB ON THE RAIL

Rhonda started sailing the same time I did and we both attended the same classes taught by Dave.  She knows more than I do for two reasons.  First, she paid better attention in class and second, her boyfriend Marvin is a really good sailor.  They sometimes sail with Cathie and I on Nice Aft.

 

DAVE AT THE HELM AND JOE ON THE JIB SHEET

Not shown in any of the photos is Brain, Dave's 1st mate and the most experienced sailor on board, besides Dave.  Anyway, with Dave in command at the helm and  Brian on the main guiding those of us with less experience we were off.  Out of Glorietta Bay into the main channel of San Diego Bay, under the Bay Bridge and north to Harbor Island.  Then it's a 180 back to the south, under the bridge and into South Bay before making another 180 and heading back into Glorietta Bay to the finish.  We figured we were doing pretty good until on the way south we passed our closest competition heading north.  They were still pretty far ahead of us and it looked like we probably wouldn't catch them.

 

ERNESTO AND CRIS WORKING FORWARD

Ernesto here is also very experienced as he is one of Dave's teaching assistants at Southwestern College.  Standing is Cris who serves our county in the navy, so he must know something about sailing.

FASTER CLASS HEADING DOWN WIND

Faster than us, the above boat is heading downwind with their spinnaker flying.  Their in the same race but in a different class than us, so it's ok for them to be ahead of us.

In the end the 1st place boat with the huge handicap finished 10 minutes ahead of us.  We came in a distant 2nd with other boats in our class never in contention.  We also managed to place 4th overall, so all in all not to shabby.