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2009 PA Governor’s Cup
By David
Thompson
On Saturday, October 24, 17 boats came out on one of the strangest sailing days we have ever seen! The forecast called for rain, heavy at times, with thunderstorms, and southerly winds at 16 MPH, with higher gusts, and a high of 67 degrees. The rain was supposed to have started on Friday night.
And it did, but by Saturday morning on the drive up the roads were just wet, and the skies were clearing. We registered, rigged the boat, attended the skipper's meeting, and splashed for the 11 AM start for the first race. The wind forecast was accurate, with gusts to 25, and RC set a mile-long windward-leeward course pointed south. The intensity of the gusts was unexpected, and the difference between the gusts and the lulls substantial, making for difficult, but not impossible, conditions on the way to the windward mark. The first few boats that rounded decided to not set spinnakers, but then when Trevor rounded, he put one up. Shortly afterwards, others followed suit.
Unfortunately, shortly after hoisting, Trevor caught a gust that broke his spin pole and sent the boat over, providing crew with a complimentary swim. Trevor however recovered, and actually finished 10th, ahead of 2 other boats still on the race course.
Then, as is the custom at SYC, we all went in for a warm lunch of corn chowder, rolls, coffee, and veggies.
After lunch we headed back out, in a much-diminished wind -- 5 to 10 -- and darkening skies. Before RC was able to start the next race, the wind shifted to the west and diminished some more. So Cat-in-the-hat went up; RC re-set the course, and it started to rain.
Once the new course was set, we started on a 2-leg course in winds that were by then 0 - 5. And it continued to rain -- harder. By the time we made the windward mark, the bilge had filled with rainwater. The first boats that rounded set their chutes, which soon became soggy and heavy, and not able to draw. Then as we rounded and set our chute, we lost sight of the leeward mark, and settled for just pointing in the direction of the boats ahead. Then the fog rolled in -- thin banks at the water height, obscuring our view of the boats ahead, and rolling over the hills to the north in thick banks reminiscent of a scene in a Steven King novel. For the first time ever we sailed by the compass alone, and fortunately found our way to the finish line. Half way down the leg our chute filled in a light zephyr, and we slipped past 3 other boats to finish 14th.
RC decided to run another race, even as the rain continued, even harder than before. By then we were soaked and getting cold, So I made the prudent decision to come in, even though we missed the third -- and eventually the 4th -- race of the day. But we got the boat put away in time to get back to the hotel for a hot shower and a change into dry clothes before dinner at the SYC
On Sunday morning the skies were clearing and the temperature was in the low 50s as we splashed for the 10 AM start, with winds from the NW at 10 - 15 MPH. As the morning progressed the air warmed up and the winds diminished slightly, making for about as perfect a sailing day as you could hope for in late October. RC ran three races, this time with the start line in the middle of the course, like we do it on the Potomac, setting a 5-leg windward/leeward course pointing north, more than a mile long. They sent boats in for the awards ceremony after the third race, but we stayed out for another half hour, mainly to wait for the docks and crane lines to dissipate, but also to the enjoy the nearly-perfect sailing wind, the bright sunshine, the fall colors on the hill, and a cold beer.
David
Thompson
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