They postponed the start by two hours. We spent that time very productively, getting a pumpkin from the course.
When we started, we had winds between 15 to 20/21 knots with an average of 17 up to Alcatraz. In order to minimize the time we would spend in adverse current, we went around Alcatraz first, and Angel second.
(at the Great Pumpkin, you can choose which way you go around the course)
We did manage good upwind speed despite a very light rail as we were short one person. We had through the water speed between 6.6 and 7 knots all the way to Alcatraz, with gradual depowering of first the main and then the genoa.
We didn't start in first position, but we tacked early to get clean air and immediately tacked back to be on layline to Alcatraz. We picked up Dianne on sheer boat speed, we picked up Libra both to leeward of us on boat speed.
We were ahead of the Expresses at Alcatraz but got sucked up in the Alcatraz hole, had to turn around to face the tide, get out into the breeze and took a long hitch around the island. We lost loads of room then. We saw Dianne, Eagle, libra, etc...zoom right by us.
We caught up with Expressway (the Express ahead of the group) in Racoon Straits, made a good right current call, got killed trying to go across to the finish line and ended up in dead air. The boats to our right also ended up in dead air...
We realized on the late (yes, we should have read the SIs) that there was a mark upwind of us we should have rounded as we were about to finish...so we went around that mark and they called off the race as we were 3 boat lengths away from the finish!!!
Very frustrating in light air, but we managed to keep the kite full somehow in 2 knots of breeze AND gybe it full.
Folks who went a little further right after Racoon Straits seems to have finished
Great gybes - two new team members: Charlie (trim and tactics) and Gabe (Mike's friend)
Charlie took a swim...actually, really hot day, so not a problem at all...
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