The Mad Sailor

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?

I don’t believe it. I’m speachless (yea right)!! Last weekend was Annapolis Race Week, one of the top events on the bay. Unfortunately we missed Saturday’s sailing because we were still cleaning up from Friday’s hurricane. They got one race in. But Sunday we were out early and ready to race!

It was a very light air day so what does the race committee do? They drag us out to the middle of the bay where there is no prayer of getting any wind …. naturally! And we didn’t. We spent the day bobbing up and down and went home frustrated. Fleet 1, close into shore did, but we didn’t.

You’d think they would know better. Especially after the article I wrote on marinersguide.com. Every time I stop at the CBYRA office they ask me to take it down. But they just don’t learn. Monday, they did it again. Took us right out in the middle. We could see there was still wind where we were but the stupid committee had to find a place with absolutely no wind. So I motored past the race committee and withdrew. What I wanted to do is illegal So we went back to were the fleet was supposed to be and sailed around upwind, downwind, upwind again … We got enough wind to reach 6.5 knots and had some fun racing one of the charter schooners a bit. Looking back at the fleet as we sailed around was a pitiful sight, 60 something boats bobbing up and down, going nowhere. I see from the results that the fleet finally got enough wind to have one race. We were at the Boatyard having lunch before they finished. Fleet 1, down at Thomas Point Light didn’t! We could see them too. So sad! So stupid!
So here is another race committee rule I’d like to see: If the race committee doesn’t take the fleet close to shore when the air is too light to race they have to pay everybody’s bar bill!