Well another racing season has successfully begun at Texoma Sailing Club. Our competition is very tough, being in the spinnarker fleet everyone is on a fast boat. The ice breaker series is one of the best series in the year as the late winter and spring sailing is always the best for sailboat racing. I am a bowman, but am moved around the boat based on the need at the time.
Last weekend we went out knowing that the winds would be high. When Angela and I got out there the winds were in the 30's. Second Star (the raceboat) had not made it to Grandpappy's Marina from Highport yet but was on its way and would make it shortly. While we waited at the clubhouse we pulled out our laptop and wireless card and pulled up the latest weather report to see if our safety was in jeopardy. As we thought the answer was yes!
The race committe boat and chase boat had been out on the race course for some time when our boat came into the marina. Second Star arrived on the scene a bit late and we had to get things done very quickly. As we tightened up the rig you could tell that everyone was a bit tense. Even in the protected marina the winds were picking up. As we left for the proving grounds it was obvious that it was going to be an interesting race. We decided to put a reef in the main and that is where the story begins.
As we started to take out the slack in the main halyard the block that was part of the reefing system blew up. With some quick hands we were able to finagle a fix and get the main reefed. We had spent so much time messing around with the reef that we didn't realize that the sequence had started and we were way away from the starting line. We quickly headed back. Starting late we moved fast as we were seeing wind speeds in the mid thirties. 8 knots meant that we were seriously moving. As we approached the windward mark we tacked over and the vang exploded. That required some ingenious rope work by 2 of our crew. In the end they got the vang under control and we continued sailing.
As we turned downwind no one moved, there was no spinnaker going up in these winds. Two other boats had some mishaps as misfortune was finding everyone. We were able to finish in Second place with only 10 seconds in corrected time in a 5 mile race. Race committee decided not to have a 2nd or 3rd race that day and we were all relieved that the day was over. Damages aside the day was beautiful and the winds very consistent. We don't see too many days where the races are in winds that high.
It must be interesting in coastal areas where winds are consistently in the 20's and 30's. I am sure that they are carrying a set of sails that lake sailors are not familiar with. With Lakefest Regatta approaching, we will have to move fast to get everything repaired so we are in tip top shape for the race. Lakefest is usually the regatta where the damage is done this year we got our taste early!
Pirate Mike
