December 13, 2013

Skip Shapiro of Palo Alto reports from Key Largo, FL, where he's sailing his Melges 20 Makaira in the Audi Melges 20 World Championship at Ocean Reef Club. This is Skip's second report; you can read the first one here.

The racing in the middle of the fleet – which is where (unfortunately) we've been most of time – has been tight. We've had tough going after the start, leeward gate roundings fighting for clear air lanes, multiple boats overlapped approaching the weather mark on the starboard layline and typically one or two boats approaching on port tack trying to sneak around inside, lots of jockeying between the weather and offset marks, and then, after the kite sets, looking for a lane on the downwind leg.

The two runs in the second race yesterday were a delight: full-on planing at 14+ knots in 18-20 knots of breeze. Those are the conditions we all enjoy.

A start. #7676 is Dan Thielman's Kuai from Corinthian YC. ©2013 ©2013 Joy/IAM20CA

A challenging aspect of becoming very competitive in the Melges 20 is knowing when to change the rig tension and which changes to make. The performance of the boat, and need to adjust the rig, is quite sensitive to changes in wind speed and wave state. Hopefully we've learned enough to produce better finish results today and tomorrow.

Racing for St. Francis YC, this is Mark Reynolds, John Kilroy, and Jeremy Wilmot. ©2013 ©2013 Steve Bernstein/IAM20CA

We're currently on a shore postponement awaiting a decrease in wind. After the second race yesterday, wind speed was at the top end of range for the regatta – 23 knots steady or persistent gusts over 25 – with the forecast of building breeze, which is what happened. So we didn't sail a third race.

The forecast, or perhaps hope, is that the wind drops enough by early afternoon for one or two races today.

Check out the photo of Sausalito's Jonny Goldsberry sitting on the rail of the capsizing Slingshot, Wes Whitmyer's boat from Stamford, CT.

They did this on purpose. ©2013 ©2013 Steve Bernstein/IAM20CA

The spinnaker halyard jumped the sheave and Jonny climbed the mast to free it or remove the block, then they capsized the boat to retie a new block. Unfortunately, they capsized the boat on the starboard side where the spinnaker pole exits and that resulted in a lot of water in the boat. They dropped out of the race, returned to the dock to bail the boat, made it back for Race 2 of the day and finished 17th.

Elliott James of Tiburon on Problem Child was unable to race yesterday due to an injured crew. He's flown in a replacement and is expected to race today.

– Skip Shapiro, Melges 20 Makaira

The day's racing was better than expected, as reported on the class's website, "most especially where racing conditions were concerned. What started out with uncertainty, ended as one of the very best days of racing yet. John Taylor aboard Ninkasi stunned spectators with an outstanding performance that has him now seated in first overall, 9 points ahead of Travis Weisleder on Lucky Dog/Gill Race Team in second." The Problem Child crew received the "most improved" award today.

See www.melges20.com for much more.