Sails: Pandora mainsail and 135LP genoa.
Event: 2025 Annapolis Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta
Course: Start at Hackett's G"1". Windward mark 070* (relative?) at 0.8nm , two laps, gate the the leeward end. No offset mark to windward.
Prognosis: Given that we are not racing on Shabbat, expect that either Windswept or Carnival Lady win, Skybird third and either Rinn Duin or Constance fourth.
Start delay by rain and thunder cells for 30 minutes. Race committee had considerable trouble setting anchor; had to relocate twice to find good holding ground. Start of racing delayed which worked well for us as we decided to bend a genoa to be selected once we reached the racing area and considered the conditions. When we reached the racing area, the wind was blowing 16 to 20kts; decided upon the 135LP genoa from Bacon's. Turned into the wind with Anabel driving while Andrew worked genoa halyard and I fed the sail into the furler, riding the bow pitching from well up in the air to occassionaly taking a bit of green water over the bow. Had to raise and lower the sail three times, as the upper swivel would pivot round the foil causing the halyard to bind against the foil and prevent the sail from being raised further.
The difficulty of raising the sail with the crew and conditions weighed against performing a sail change for the rest of the day. Thought about doing so between races or during a downwind leg but in each case demurred. Between the two races, started in on a sail change, getting as far as removing the tack shackle, when the wind rose and convinced me to keep the 135LP. From the graph, this must have been about 1:30pm. Needless to say,
First race:
GPX
formatted track . Distance: 4.81nm, Speed: 4.1kts, Duration: 1:10
Second race: Good start a few seconds after the gun on starboard below Windswept with Carnival Lady coming at us on port. Carnival Lady was forced, at the start, to duck both Constance and another boat. At the party, after the day's racing, Lanny Helms reported that the time lost by Carnival Lady determined the race and the regatta, giving Lanny and Windswept first place over Carnival Lady.
On the first upwind leg, talked with Anabel about watching boats, distances, determining which would cross, when to start a soft duck, how much to alter course, and targeting the crossing boat's stern to keep close to the intended course. A couple good, soft ducks of J/22's. Talked about when there are several, if one needs to watch the closest only and when successive boats could be a problem. Arrived at the mark in company with Skybird and Rinn Duin. Windswept and Carnival Lady well ahead.
On the first downwind leg, flying the genoa wing-on-wing, poled out with a boot hook, we passed both Skybird and Rinn Duin. Both had headed somewhat more out into the Bay on the downwind leg. Ended up rounding the downwind mark a boat length or two ahead. Slow genoa handling during the transition to upwind. Rinn Duin ended up above us and proceeded to sail higher throughout the upwind leg. First time in the regatta that Rinn Duin showed good boat speed and point. Skybird was below us, slowly catching and falling off a bit as she did. I allowed the windward-leeward distance, combined with the added speed Skybird had from sailing lower, to allow Skybird the space to tack and become established on starboard before we reached her line at the turn for the windward mark. An error on my part; I should have stayed closer to Skybird, sailing a bit lower and faster, and thereby kept her pinned below us.
Once Skybird tacked to starboard to fetch the mark, we were faced with ducking or lee-bowing Skybird. Chose to lee-bow her. Poor genoa handling during the tack resulted in Skybird sailing over us. Very slow to get the sail in and pulling, taking nearly a minute during which time we sailed two and a half knots slower than on the previous board (2.4 vs 5) and sliding to leeward. Ended up pinching, sailing slow, losing ground. Both Skybird and Rinn Duin rounded and finished ahead of us.
GPX formatted track . Distance: 5.03nm, Speed: 4.8kts, Duration: 1:03
Nonetheless, we ended up fourth in the regatta due to taking third in the second and third races of the first day.
Day One
We were treated to Chamber of Commerce weather today. Vivid blue skies and white and some grey clouds. Breezes from 170-180 degrees. We were postponed while the southerly filled in and built to 7 kts. The breeze increased all day up to about 11 or 12 kts.
R1. Windswept and Carnival Lady were on the line at the gun with full speed on and quickly became the leaders. After changing positions several times on the course Windswept was the winner in the end. Good racing.
R2. Again Windswept and Carnival Lady were the leaders throughout the race. Windswept in the lead for most of the race. It really pays to have a consistent crew. In the end Carnival Lady took the lead right at the finish line (and not before!). Tight racing between these two. R3. Carnival Lady switched up to her heavy #1 and we are all four off again.Carnival Lady missed a radio transmission from the RC and was headed to the wrong mark.Realizing their mistake early they still managed to still be in second at the weather mark. Carnival Lady and Constance were duking it out downwind with Carnival Lady struggling with boat handling and Constance with Rick Chambers at the helm and Jonathan Bresler being the octopus (that's another story I'll share later). Constance was steady wing and wing down the leg while we on Carnival Lady were tripping around the decks. Not a stellar performance but this is how we all learn. Skybird seemed to struggle each race but also got closer to the leaders each race.
Day Two
South south westerly winds going southerly today. Velocity expected to be up and down. It was all that and more. Breeze was anywhere from 240 to 170 degrees. Race committees did a good job of keeping things moving with all the changes.
R4 Our course is between Hacketts and R2 and we are having less dramatic shifts than the SSA course just to our West between Whitehall Bay and Bay Ridge.
But on the edge between our two courses there were gains to be made and Windswept was on it. Port tacking the fleet and heading WSW got Windswept over to the edge of both race courses. Rinn Duin pinched Carnival Lady off after the start and, with Skybird, managed to get to the right in that edge. Well ahead at the first mark Windswept led all the way around. In the end, Carnival Lady crawled back to second place, Skybird 3rd and Rinn Duin 4th.
R5 of the series the winds had settled more to 180 degrees. RC did a good job changing marks around to accommodate the shift.
Carnival Lady started at the stand side of the line while Windswept was to leeward and a boat between us. This time it was Carnival Lady who led around the course. Unfortunately Windswept had a couple of bad spin sets which took them out of striking range. Skybird took advantage of the situation, had a good set and steamed on by Windswept. That could change the scoring up! Windswept and the well oiled crew ground Skybird down and finished 2nd. Skybird 3rd and Rinn Duin 4th.
R6 the breeze was up a little and again the right side was favored. Windswept was out in front and another bad set allowed Carnival Lady to catch up but not enough to score the win. Windswept 1st, Carnival Lady 2nd, Skybird 3rd and Rinn Duin 4th.
Day Three
The Chamber of Commerce was not happy with the weather forecast today, neither were the competitors! We were all (260 boats) postponed ashore for 30 minutes while a storm cell passed over us. There was still a chance of lightning in the cells but we were clear to go! It rained all the way out to the courses and the breeze was up to about 15 kts. For the Alberg that was either #1 and a reef or #2 and a full main. We have 5 boats out today and that is good for us all! The RC was again stationed near Hacketts can and the RC tried to anchor just SW of the can. Unfortunately that area was an oyster bed at some point and they could not keep on station. We were postponed for about another 20 plus minutes.
R7 The course was .8 mile weather leg and the axis was 170 degrees. Carnival Lady and Windswept being only 3 points apart were keeping tabs on each other. No real match racing going on but there was definite good natured tension going on. The breeze had died down some and Carnival Lady changed up to her #1 and Windswept. Rinn Duin and Skybird shook out their reefs.
Carnival Lady started on the boat end of the line and Windswept started on port. At the crossing Windswept was ahead. Carnival Lady continued on starboard tack while the rest of the fleet took off on port. After some separation up the first leg Carnival Lady tacked to cover the fleet. Loose covering after that kept Carnival Lady in the lead the rest of the race. Sweet victory with lots of "now the pressure is really on" as the winner between Windswept and Carnival Lady would be who wins the last race!
R8 The breeze is back up closer to the 14 kts range. There were some seas and white caps with the increased breeze. Windswept took the early lead. At the windward mark Windswept was ahead and set the spinnaker. On Carnival Lady the discussion was 'do we set the chute and chance a mistake or wing and wing and hope Windswept does?'. Carnival Lady set the trend of no chute on the first downwind. It was not a bad call, it was just a static call-keeping Carnival Lady in steady second place. Windswept kept Carnival Lady in her place the whole race for the win!
Big KUDO's to everyone who entered the series and came out and raced! It was a fun group and good racing.
CONGRATULATIONS to Lanny Helms and crew for a hard fought series! It is a pleasure to sail against you Lanny, you are a gentleman and consummate competitor!
Video Links:
Intro video showing some of the fun and newer classes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gy7qVTyHhU
Friday video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vc6WJOi7aU
Alberg 30 footage short of Windswept in start area at 00:31
Alberg 30 start short at 09:15
Saturday video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7n4NW-LWHQU
Alberg 30 footage short with Windswept and Rinn Duin at 25:24
Sunday video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goY3zZntddQ
Alberg 30 footage short with Windswept at 24:26