The Race Committee gave it a gallant try last night. An east wind against a 2-4 knot current are not the ingredients for a successful evening of racing. The committee waited until the wind was more or less steady at 10 knots or more before making a decision to race. When puffs in excess of 12 knots started to fill things around Buoy 14, the “go” decision was made.
Tony and his crew of A Fleet volunteers wisely added C as a mark of the course just in case the J 24 race had to be shortened from 2 laps to 1. And the Poncho crew was ready to finish the other fleets at B if necessary.
The RC was able to shorten the J24 course and finish a race for the fleet. For the other fleets, no such luck. While a few of the Cruising Fleet boats could have finished in time, there just wasn’t enough light left in the day to finish all boats in any other fleet. As a result, the RC had to abandon the race for everyone else. Bummer.
On the bright side, wind direction notwithstanding, it was a nice night for sailing on the Columbia River. And there was no sign of pirates, porcine ailments, or toxic assets anywhere to be seen.
No races next week because of the Offshore. SYSCO Spring Series racing resumes on the 12th and 14th.
If you’re doing the Offshore, break a leg. If you’re not, remember practice doesn’t make perfect, perfect practice does.
See you on the water,
Rich
SYSCO Commodore for 2009
Temp Race Captain for the Spring Series
