It was NOT a J/30 weekend! Light air sucks when sailing against Olson 30s, Andrews 30s.
There were ONLY 2 Js registered for the regatta. Used to be we'd have 8. Perhaps for the Verve Cup in August we can entice more boats from Michigan and New Orleans to join us.
In the only race 1 on Friday, Circus kicked the sht out of Planxty. Planxty was over eary, and never managed to get close to Bird.
For race #2 on Saturdy, Planxty decided to foul a boat just after the start. Circus again kicked Planxty's a**.
For race 3 things were mixed up a bit. A late start at the boat, and Planxty was ahead of everyone starting down the line (including Circus). A building breeze during the race helped put us ahead of the Andrews 30 who has been leading the regatta. Notch one for Planxty (losing don't suck so bad when you win).
Race 4 on Sunday was strange. The r/c managed to set a line so boat favored on 1 boat could get a good start... and the first leg was a fetch. Circus managed this way better than Planxty a pulled int a significant lead. Playing the south side of the run was a big win for Planxty, and anded up rounding the leeward mark just ahead of Circus. It was a match race to the windward mark, with Circus cutting into Planxty's lead. The final run was again a fun match, with Planxty losing the endgame to Circus by seconds. Lesson... don't let a boat behind get in inside overlap when you're approaching the finish line... you can't gybe.
For the final race, the pin was 10 degrees favoured. Watching the J/105s and T10s in front of us was entertaining. Planxty managed THE start at the pin (barely)... with Circus up the line. While we manged to match race them up the beat, it was Circus that had a bit more speed, and rounded the windward mark first. Unfortunately, Mike Bird hadn't learned his lesson from the Annapolist NOOD a year ago (where the offset mark was set upwind and upcurrent of the windward mark). Planxty continued past windward until they were on the layline to the offset. Planxty went on to win that one.
Can't wait until the Verve, where there WILL be a J/30 one-design!
