Saturday, was #3 weather, 15-20 with gusts to 28 from the West along with sudden 40-degree wind shifts. Sunday was a moderate 8-10 from the West, still shifty with occasional puffs in the high teens. Monday surprised with a steady Southeasterly at 10-15. It was clear and cool for this time of year, the best weather I can ever recall for Annapolis Race Week and I've done quite a few.
After two days and five races, Bebop had a one point lead over Big Kahuna, three on Insatiable and five on Better Mousetrap. In the sixth race we were able to get ahead at the start and cover Kahuna, finishing just a boat length apart as we traded gybes on the final run. In the seventh race Big Kahuna was over early at the pin, providing a cushion for the final race. We struggled a bit Sunday, over early in one race that gave little chance to recover when it was shortened to three legs for no apparent reason. Insatiable won that day with a 2-1. Avita went 3-1-4 Monday, the fourth after taking a penalty for hitting the last mark while in the lead.
It was great to see Cannonball and Bump out as well as Avenger's David Johnson up from Herrington Harbor with Phil Heldrich from Chaos on his crew.
In the breeze there were several mishaps. Encounter's rudder sheared off before the first race, though skipper Drew Dowling was out watching later in the weekend. Big Kahuna broke their traveler on a gybe, finished the day with a jury rig, but fixed it by morning. Mousetrap popped a spreader clean off while tuning up, but sailed behind a freighter for cover to get it reattached before the start on Sunday. I'm sure somebody got a clear view of our keel when we broached while gybing the chute on the way out to the race course Saturday. The second time we've ever filled the cockpit with water--my daughter called it a near death experience.
ARW Fleet 3 J/30 Results
