Tony,

Just wanted to thank you for the use of Saorsa in the regatta. Ruth and Roland joined me for one of those "special days" that will long be remembered. We had a West varying back and forth to North breeze for most of the day with a flood tide. First race was an upwind start towards the Centenial wharf. Then downwind to the Ganges Shoal out by the Second Sister, and back to the start line.

I had hanked on the smaller jib and upon noticing it decided to leave it on for the start as time was short & we didn't have very far to go before we would be in a downwind position and be under the spinnaker. MISTAKE, Saorsa was slow to get going with this sail and we were trailing the pack by the time we got around the first mark. Up went the shute. A bit slow getting her up but up she went without compromise. Ruth had the helm and Roland and I were the deck monkeys. We gained on a number of boats and passed some on the down wind leg. Removed the small jib and went to our usual foresail. Upwind we held our own and completed the first race in the second half of the fleet of 11 boats.

The second race was the same course as the first. We had a better start and Saorsa was doing well with her correct foresail rigged. Rounded the first mark with the fleet. Then broke out the spinnaker. We had a bit of a delay as we got an hourglass that didn't want to pull out. So we had to lower it a bit and haul her up again. Soon we were scooting down the harbour but were trailing. At the second mark we caught up to the fleet. We were in a good position at the mark, but it was extremely congested (rivaling the International Race at Semiahmoo). I really thought we were in for it. I got on the cabin top where I could see the whole boat and called directions to Ruth who did an exemplary job on the helm. Saorsa and everyone got through the hairball without any contacts although at one point our port quarter was within 4 inches of Soul Dancer's starboard side, while Harp was within just a few inches to our starboard side. Once around the mark Harp (Cal 25?) with Ole aboard was close hauled as we all were. However Saorsa did her pointing magic and we just pointed up causing him to have to luff. We accelerated away at a comfotable 4.5 knots. Imp and Final Dash appeared to be the winners in these two races, but we haven't seen the final results yet.   

After this race we broke for lunch. We just dropped sails and drifted while we enjoyed some lovelly open faced Cheese and tomato sandwiches that Ruth had brought along.  Then for the third and final race, it was a down channel start and off to "U60" adjacent to the Akland Islands. By now the wind had got into the NE and so the spinnakers wouldn't hold, although Bob on Alacrity hung in by the south shore and pinched her along. For the first bit he paid a price as we left him back, however things improved in his favor and Alacrity came marching up past the fleet on the Saltpring shore to starboard of the fleet. We had stayed more in the mid channel and then pretty much followed a rumb line to the Acklands, breaking out the chute once clear of the Sisters. Around the mark just a few minutes behind Soul Dancer, Electra, and Minke; ahead of Naru and Harp. Then it was close hauled and working our way across and up Captain Passage. Electra, Minke, and Soul Dancer opted to tack back towards Secret Island after rounding the mark. What ever it was they were hoping to find didn't come through for them and worked to our favour as we held onto one tack from the Acklands to the finish. Winds got very fickle and the finish line was altered to be at the Ganges Shoal, Second Sisters Light line. Roger beat us there by a few boat lengths. We then took Electra in tow for the club, as Roger was in charge of dinner, and his engine was not working.  

Roland, Ruth and myself all had a wonderful day. I am sure that this feeling was shared throughout the fleet. The weather was great. I got a bit of a burn (the way I like it). The winds were fair (we topped out at about 5.9knts at one point, mostly above 3 and into the 4'rs. I don't know what Norbert & Norah have been doing with Arbitrage lately but she seems to be "running like a frieght train". When she rounded the Acklands mark she was just goin-n-n-g!  We missed seeing Strawberry Express with Scott & June out there. I guess they had other things going. Ole was sailing on "Harp" .  Fandango was out there as well with Philip, Art and Suzanne. We didn't see much of them other than their transom!! Final Dash and Imp were leaders as was Arbitrage. It will be fun to see the results. I think we did best on the last race. The first one was a bit of a disaster but they were all fun. 

Roger made a wonderful curried lamb for dinner. It was excellent! It was also augmented by an assortment of salads and a lasagna. This followed up by some chocolate cake and brownies.

Hope that your trip is going well. see you soon,

Dave Howell

Results:

Race 1

Race 2

Race 3

Final Results