The Slow and Stormy Osius Race

LinGin raced in the Ted Osius Memorial regatta this Sunday.  Glen, Garrett, Vlado and I had quite an enjoyable afternoon on the boat.  In the middle of the second time around the windward-leeward course, a strong thunderstorm motored through the race course.  Lots of rain and sporadic lightning, but thankfully no strikes too close.

It was a very frustrating race.  Argo led the whole race, with Windswept not far behind them.  We were in 3rd fight hard to keep in front of Second-2-Nun.  LinGin has had a disturbing lack of speed the last few races.  Glen, the crew and I are dumbfounded as to what the issue is.  We'll keep trying different things, but right now, it's all about making good tactical calls; we can't rely on boat speed for the win these days.

Once back at the dock, we started the repair to our backstay.  Glen climbed in the lazarette and started grinding away.  Hot, dusty work.  Thanks, Glen!

I'll be starting some fiberglass work during this bye week for the Wednesday Night Races.

Longest PSA Overnight Race Makes for Great Racing

Many years, the PSA Overnight could have been called the PSA Late Evening race.  Not this year, though.  We finished around 0540 and I can't remember finishing after 0200...and I've been doing this race for 25 years!

Although the race was long, Glen, Tim and I had a great time on the water.  The race had a little something for everybody.  We saw the wind completely die for long stretches numerous times.  At one point the GPS said we'd finish in 2 days.  We saw the current take over the wind.  We actually anchored twice while trying to round Pools Island Light.  We saw the wind come out of the north, the west and finally the south.  

And we traded places with Windswept and Argo at least twice during the race!  I meant first, second and third place.  At times it was painful.  Argo and Windswept passed us to leeward on a 7 mile reach.  A few times it was tense.  We overtook Windswept in a little downwind duel as the night obscured everything.  It was very beautiful.  Great sunset with beautiful stars and a wonderful dawn.  Fantastic!

In the end, we overtook both Windswept and Argo on the last leg to take the gun at Baltimore Light.  Great times with great friends!

Blustery Winds Make for a FAST St. Mike's Race

The Williams family was joined by James Baden (MJ's friend) and the Beckers on the annual race to St. Michaels.  It was a very breezy race and with winds out of the north, we finished very quickly.  Windswept took us shortly after the start and we were unable to catch her before the finish.  

James especially and the kids in general were a big help during the race.

Can you find 3 people in this picture?

Everyone had a good time and James and Mackenzie rode their bikes back to Queenstown after spending the night on the boat.

LinGin Takes 1st at the 2013 NOOD

This year got off to a good start with LinGin and her crew taking first at the Annapolis NOOD.  It was a hard fought victory.  Each of the three days of the NOOD is scored individually for High Point and with the close racing it turned out that each day went to a different boat.  Windswept took one day, Argo another and LinGin the third day.