Ben Mohr Rock Race, January 11, 2009

After the cancellation of two races in December and the Hot Rum Race on New Years Day due to snowy conditions and poor access to the docks, the racing group keenly anticipating the first race of the new season. Ten boats assembled for a simple course out through Captain Passage, around Ben Mohr Rock and back to the club, for a 9 nautical mile circuit.

 With a light 3 to 5 knot winds blowing out of the harbour, the fleet set off on an upwind start towards the Grace Point marker. Caliente was the first boat to round the strategically placed crab trap off Grace Point (which was a last minute substitute for our missing mark), closely followed by Imp. As successive boats rounded the mark, vibrantly coloured spinnakers were raised, brightening a drab grey and misty harbour. Caliente and Imp set an early pace as they gibed backwards and forwards along the north side of the harbour looking for the best wind. Both held spinnakers as they increase their lead on the tight reach over to Captain passage but with coming ahead in the Passage they became increasingly difficult to hold and most were dropped for the close haul over to Ben Mohr Rock marker.

 Caliente rounded Ben Mohr first with Imp impossible to shake off and maintaining a constant distance behind, such that any outside observer would have cause to think that she was being towed by Caliente! Up went the spinnakers again as the boats rounded the mark and set off for the return through Captain Passage. Lighter winds greeted the lead boats in the passage and as the headed back towards the sisters Imp slowly began to catch and pass Caliente. As the wind filled in behind, the rest of the fleet started to close up the gap on the lead boats. Imp began pulling pulling away form Caliente in the light shifting winds but a closely fought battle between Fandango and Oasis almost had them catching sluggish Caliente at the line. They were closely followed by Electra, Boomer and Deryn Mor with the remaining three boats Arbitrage, Baron Rouge and Tara's Whisper well behind.

 Imp crossed the line first and on corrected time, won the first race of the season followed by Deryn Mor, Fandango, Boomer, Electra, Oasis, Caliente, Baron Rouge and Arbitrage. Tara's Whisper did not finish.

 Pete McGovern. Fleet Captain Racing