BOAT

ROUND PENDERS, LEGS ONE AND TWO, 21 & 22 AUGUST

The forecast was for heavy rain on the 21st. and the forecast proved accurate. It is then not

surprising that only two boats showed up for this event. The start was delayed to 1100 and

the rain came in at about 1115 and killed what had been a promising breeze.

ELECTRA and ALACRITY made slow progress down the harbour but were rewarded with

dryer conditions and improving wind closer to Batt Rock. It was a pleasant sail with

ALACRITY hoisting a spinnaker for the anticipated run to Navy Channel. In fact it was a beam

reach and the spinnaker was of very marginal advantage. ALACRITY maintained the lead to

Hope Bay at which point ELECTRA showed her superior windward performance and arrived

at the buoy off Razor Point 2 minutes 28 seconds ahead.

The Pender Regatta was in full swing at the Port Browning Marina so we did not even look for

a berth but rafted up outside, got the heater going and dried out. During the course of the

evening we enjoyed a fine meal, good wine, good company, and solved most of the world’s,

Salt Spring’s and the club’s problems--more or less in that order.

Sunday was fine and clear with a hint of wind in the channel. After a largish breakfast we

aimed for a 1015 start off Razor point. Getting to Razor point had its moments as ELECTRA,

ever conscious of keeping the weight down, ran out of fuel and had to be towed until we found

the wind. The start was at 1030 off some unnamed prawn trap marker about half a mile south

east of Razor Point buoy. It was a beat to Blunden Island with very little wind beyond this

point. By Gowland Point the light airs allowed a spinnaker to fill but not much more. Off Tilly

Point both boats were together and jibed onto Stb. to use the improving quarterly wind. 5

knots were recorded on the meter, which was encouraging, for there was now about 0.7 knots

of tide against us.

It was a spinnaker run almost all the way home. At the speed buoy ALACRITY was about

200 yards ahead of ELECTRA. About 100 yds. from the finish the wind went ahead for

ALACRITY who was able to reach close to the mark and then allow excessive weight to

maintain momentum over the line. ELECTRA lay becalmed off the spit and was brought to her

berth lashed alongside ALACRITY. It was a disappointing end to what had been a grand

homeward run.

Bob Jones

ALACRITY