race report
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 Leeward weight on the low-freeboard rail of the J/88 M Squared. The 29-footers have their own five-boat division this year in the GGYC Midwinters. ©2015 norcalsailing.com |
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Wind or Current?
December 7, 2015 The battle for the soup bowl continued on Saturday in the 45th edition of Golden Gate Yacht Club's Manuel Fagundes Seaweed Soup Regatta in what could best be described as a wind prognosticator's nightmare. The warning gun sounded as scheduled at 11:30, and the first four starts went off on time in a light 3-5 knot northeasterly and full 3-knot ebb off the GGYC clubhouse. The remaining divisions waited out a 20-minute postponement.
All the boats were sent off into a light northeasterly to a mark set at Aquatic Park and either a double or single sausage course depending on division. The first trick of the day was to get around the spit at the San Francisco Marina, Those who could squeak by without hitting the rocks were golden and those who had to tack away got stuck in the ebb and lost ground rapidly, getting swept west towards the Gate.
The slow parade of boats tacked up the Cityfront seeking relief from the current and wondering if they would be able to even finish. But wait — just off to the north a wind line was approaching and it was looking like the day might be saved after all. Most of the boats waited it out along the shore certain that the 8-knot breeze would eventually make it to them. Those who were impatient took off downstream toward the breeze, losing all the upstream progress for which they had worked so hard. But that damn wind never made it and the right call was to head north. The crews that guessed and took the flyer north passed the others. And that was just the first leg.
See www.ggyc.org to learn how it all turned out. The next race in the series will be on January 2.
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