Long Harbour Race, November 16, 2008

Sunday morning dawned foggy and windless, but by the time we gathered at the club, there was a modest SE breeze and the fog was lifting, revealing periodic patches of blue. Twelve boats started this very entertaining course, which is the first annual(?) Long Harbour Race, proposed by our intrepid Fleet Captain, Pete McGovern.

The breeze was light and shifty heading out of the harbour, with Oasis, Imp and Caliente sharing the lead at the Sisters. These three elected to go the right side of the course on the way to Horda Shoal, the first mark. Fandango and Boomer, who were well back, elected to go left, and either found better breeze or tide or both, and made up a lot of ground by the time we made it to the shoal. Oasis wasn't going to raise her spinnaker on the way down to Clamshell Island in Long Harbour, but thought better of it when she was losing ground to Imp and Fandango behind her! Caliente had gotten away from the rest of us by this point, and rounded Clamshell Island first. It was great fun beating out of and running down into Long Harbour with all 11 boats crossing, tacking and gybing in close proximity.

The chutes went up at Scott Point for the reach to Ganges Harbour. Crews had to be vigilant to dodge the light patches in Ganges Harbour, as usual. After the race the well-used picnic benches got even more well-used!

A warm welcome goes out to Kay D (Flying Fifteen) skippered by Martin Herbert, who started the race but had to leave at the first mark because of prior commitments, and to Impossible, new to the club docks, and skippered by Phillipe Erdmer. May these be the first of many, many enjoyable races for you both.

PS. As I recall it, Minke crossed the line in front of Impossible – thus the finish times given are somewhat “impossible”. However, in the interest not opening a can of worms, I have let the results stand and take sole responsibility for being lazy. -Greg.