The Mad Sailor

Didn’t hurt a bit ….. did it. Special thanks to the race committee that got off it’s butt, moved out to the Eastern Bay and shortened the race. I think I speak for everyone in saying, “Thank You!” The race won’t count towards high point because the average speed was below the limit, but, and this is a very big but, we got to finish a race. Almost everyone got to finish. And there was a winner! And everyone was happy at the party! And it was a great party!

Sunday was another story. We couldn’t get our of our own way and gave up and motored home. Why? Boys … especially Bingman, listen up! When there’s no wind take the start out to Eastern Bay. Starting in Miles River with no air is every bit as dumb as not shortening a race when there’s no air and almost as dumb as destroying ‘B’ fleet … Bingman. I gotta get my digs in where and when I can Even Escapade - way in the lead on Sunday - gave up before she even got out of the river.

Oh and a special thanks to my crew! You were great! You were why we got second on Saturday

Frigid Digit marks the end of the season for us. We will sail on in the AYC Frost Bite series, but that will be in PHRF ‘A’. We don’t have a prayer in that fleet, but don’t get me started on that again.

Middle River is one of my favorite places to sail. The people are very friendly and it reminds me of so many places I have visited around the world. The sailing is usually great. Unfortunately it’s no longer well attended. Glenmar is a shadow of it’s past glory and it doesn’t draw boats from other clubs like it used to. So next year when you are tired of Oxford and St. Michaels add a Middle River regatta to your schedule. You’ll be glad you did.

They did it again! After a fine race on Saturday in 10-15 knots of wind. Sunday’s race was another “nobody finishes” race that didn’t have to be. We started in light wind and raced down the river at 4-5 knots speed-over-ground. Not bad for the conditions. But there was absolutely no wind on the bay and as we turned north at the mouth of the river we all came to a screeching halt. I took us back towards shore where I found 2-3 knots of boat speed. By the time the rest of my fleet realized what we were doing it was too late for them. It didn’t matter though. Around 2:45 we were 2 miles from the finish. We had to be there by 3:30 to make it a race and we were now only going 1 knot. OOPS! Won’t make it Once again the committe failed to shorten the course. So once again here is how to do it. And I am so tired of repeating myself!

Every turning mark should have a gate and committee on station. You go through the gate and the committee takes your time. If you still have air you keep racing. If the air has died the committee fires the gun, blows the horn and everybodygoes home happy. On those really weird days when the air dies between marks you get scored at your last mark. Any questions?

We need six races, I think, to qualify for high point on the chesapeake. We’ve raced eight this year and only 2 finished. Time for a change don’t you think?