Tim Dickson, Dana Schuster, Nate Miller, and AE ran the races. Here is Tim’s report:
The turnout was thin but the Albacore’s were mighty. We had five Albacores and no other classes for the day. I queried whether the area by the power plant would suit for the smaller group, but even though we were at high tide in a full moon with the last vestiges of the Nor’easter, it was thought the water might still be too thin. So we elected concierge service for the Albacores. If they wanted to go we’d go: you paid your money, you get your racing!
Forecast held pretty true but we had enough of a Northerly angle to set up windward/leewards with a decent distance, which is what the group had wanted. The Nor’easter held on with some pretty gusty conditions; several gusts in the high twenties. The rain was off and on but fairly merciful… We got used to not saying “I think it blew through” after the fifth or sixth wave of wind and rain.
We had three capsizes, and AE and Nate were on the scene right away in each case, getting a workout. For one boat, one was enough and retired, and we kept an eye on them as they headed home. For the other, one wasn’t enough, so they capsized again! That did the job and they went home.
AE and Nate and Dana were splendid. Kept in constant contact and chugged over to help capsized boats right away. We set the marks at a true north/south with a pretty square start and finish line, but the ravaging current and wind caused some pin travel which was fixed between starts. Nice to have a one-design regatta without other classes testing their patience! Dana did flag and scribe duty nearly flawlessly, and I think our Albacore fleet was happy. After three races some were ready to go home, and the radar with buckets of rain on the screen suggested we call it a day. All were in by three or so without any issues.
Pictures
