While the prediction was for no wind, we had a nice steady southerly all day. It might have gusted up to 8, but never went really light. Also not very shifty. I think I managed to get on the wrong side of whatever shifts there were however.
7 boats out and we got in 5 races. There was an issue with the 17, but Len and company switched to the 19, and the races got under way before 1pm.
Today was a day where a lot of positions changed because of the current, which was flooding the whole time. It didn’t seem too strong, but it made the weather mark quite tricky. It also made for some great opportunities at the start.
The starting line was fairly short since there were only seven boats and it was pretty square. The first race I managed to start last or second to last because I completely misjudged how far the current was pushing me. All the rest of the starts I managed to be at the boat with speed at the gun, because everyone else pushed away from the line by the current. In the race I managed to place second in (2d or 3rd race) I think I started nearly two boat lengths ahead of the next boat because I was trimmed and on the line. Definitely easier to do that when the fleet is small.
The other place the current played a big role was at the weather mark. You really couldn’t set up too far down the lay line because of the current. I think most of the time the leaders ended up coming in on port and tacking inside of ten boat lengths. Every time I lined up from farther out I had to pinch, shoot or double tack to make the mark.
It was a beautiful, sunny day with a low, but steady breeze. It was a great way to finish my 2019 sailing year.