Another win

[Tim R.]

Although we had a great start, our first leg last night was lousy because we were not prepared when the wind piped up right at the start and we had too much sail. We made up our loses on the third leg that was a beam reach and we were averaging about 6.8 knots. All the boats behind us got very small on this leg. We took the gun 6 minutes ahead of the next boat.

So we have a fairly good lead in the overall standings 4 points ahead of the second place boat(my previous boat) with 3 races remaing.

We are also planning on doing the MS Regatta and the Northeast Harbor race which is an overnighter on labor day weekend.

 

[CalebD]

Another win even though we didn't win the race

Wednesday night races are a great summer pastime. They give you a weekly reason to go out on your boat that you spend so much time fixing up if your boat is as old as mine. The weather conditions on the lower Hudson were quite nice as was the building gibbous(?) moon and all the visible planets as the race wore on.
I took out 2 crew with the intent of not getting a 'DNF' (did not finish) or the dreaded 'DFL' (dead fooking last) so our single 1st place finish might hold up a little better. I was glad to have crew however inexperienced or unused to my boat.
Currents in the Hudson River can be up to 2 knots and they were predictably influential in the outcome of the race. The downwind buoy had been moved by current or mischievious intent about a half mile up river. We cleared the last marker by a (too) wide margin but still managed not finishing DFL as others had been searching for the missing marker too.
The evening and the air and light were just not worth missing. There are a few planets up there right now for viewing pleasure as well. I was feeling like a winner for having been out with two people I was trying to help learn the 'fine' art of sailing with. Of course the wind picked up nicely after we crossed the finish so we sailed a little more up river, into the current before dropping sail and heading back to our mooring before only being left with a half moonlight to find the stick.
We did not finish first and are not likely to due to PHRF corrections but I still had a great time and would recommend anyone else try out their local Weds. race circuit as it can be great fun if it isn't too competitive and hormone laden. It also gives you an excuse to use your boat on a weekly basis and since we had our bottom cleaned last week I could not refuse the pull of the river and my old boat.
Race a bit and learn.