Race Day!

I got back from NYC on Saturday night and went racing off MDI on Sunday.  It was a perfect way to ease back into island life, although, like in NYC, I was surrounded by art - awesome, inspiring scenery.

Norwood Cove, Southwest Harbor

It was a perfect summer day for anyone, but for those of us who were sailing, the conditions could not have been better.  The wind was blowing 10-20 knots, south to southwest.  And sunny - the sky was summer blue with ever-changing wispy clouds.

South of Cranberry Island 

The course took us from Greening's Island in The Great Harbor south out to Bunker's Ledge, then east past Cranberry Island, over to and around Baker's Island, and finally west past Sutton's Island and to the finish off Northeast Harbor.

South of Cranberry Island and Islesford

Excellent Sail Trim

Covering the Competition

We were in third place for most of the race, and our strategy was to stay close to the competition - not go off on some wild tangent hoping we would guess right.  We didn't make mistakes as a crew.  Our tacking and spinnaker sets and takedowns were all good.  We communicate well with each other and we love our "skipper".  He's a hero.  He shares the helm with Phyllis, herself a "world-class" sailor. 

Heading Back to the Rock

Uh-oh, Light Air Ahead . . . patience

Then, in between Sutton's and Great Cranberry, the wind lightened, died, shifted, then  v-e-r-y   s-l-o-w-l-y  filled in from the southwest.  We decided to stick close to the north shore of Great Cranberry, expecting the wind shift and we found ourselves with the best advantage of getting/drifting to the wind sooner than the other boats - we kept inching closer and closer to the wind line, not much control of the helm with the boat auto-tacking.  Our concern was catching a lobster pot, but finally, poof!  the sails snapped full and we gradually picked up speed, distancing ourselves from the competition who were left stalled, frustrated, and impatiently waiting for the new breeze.  

Race Committee

We got the gun!  First place finish!  Thanks, Shearwater, great race!  Hooray Eventyr!  Cold beers and chocolate chip cookies all around!

Back home to Norwood Cove.

Our Competition . . . nice race . . .  (hi, john)

We are officially the boat to beat in the MDI Series.  Two wins in a row!