Looking for wisdom after a scary last day of the Alaska Cup Regatta yesterday. Series was tied between Express 30 and my J/30 hull 354. The 35S5 was not in contention. High 20's (or low 30's) gusting to 40 waves were not a big factor. I had half of my carbon 100% blade out, no main, and 4 people on the rail. Gusts were throwing me past 45 degrees, and I don't think I could have safely retrieved someone overboard under sail. I quit before the start. Race committee continued the race with the Express 34 winning the Cup by finishing the 4.4 mile course. Express 34 said that was "scary," hadn't sailed in anything like that before. Neither other skipper answered a straight "yes" to whether they could retrieve someone safely under sail. Most have been sailing 4-5 years.
What do you all think about what the J/30 can do those winds with more experience; I've been on it 4 summers. It's my second boat, grew up on dad's J/30 but I was never skipper. The boat felt like a piece of paper in the wind.
What about the race committee's decision to continue at all?
I will also post on facebook, I'm not sure which is the best place.
Last edited by Patrick Stinson; 08/26/24 12:58 PM.
