Twice Around

Full Moon crew Randy “Apple Watch” Olsen, Chad “Bleu Chip” Harnish, Adam “Halyards” Michalak, and skipper John “Warm Beer” Mengedoht enjoyed a good start in light breeze near the Committee Boat end of the line for Goosebump Race #2. As expected, the 30’ all-out racer Nefarious and 33’ Anarchy quickly pulled out into a lead while Full Moon was somewhat more evenly matched with 40’ Surt and the Thunderbird Selchie. Rounding the AGC buoy, Selchie was third, Surt fourth, and Full Moon bringing up the rear as only five boats went in first start!

Randy enjoys the weather.

The Equalizer was quickly launched for the long run to the Freeway buoy and, for a while, it looked like Full Moon might overtake Surt and maybe even Selchie but it was not to be. Meanwhile, Anarchy either got their buoys mixed up or had difficulties with their asymmetrical spinnaker but they eventually came roaring back to the Freeway buoy to hold onto second place.

Chad, too!

The third leg to the Aurora buoy was a close reach and Full Moon elected to be conservative and use the genoa rather than gybe the nylon monster and struggle to take it down at that wind angle. The boats ahead gained a bit with spinnakers up, though Surt then lost more than it had gained when their spinnaker flew behind them as they brought it down. 

Surt in the distance.

The rest of the race showed occasional gains and losses but no changes in the order of boats except that speedy Scat from second start got past Full Moon, overcoming a 5 minute head start. It was surprising to see both Scat and a J30 in second start but that just means less competition for Full Moon!

Regarding the race last week, it was actually Surt that was recorded for third place. Meanwhile, there was a lot of Facebook commentary suggesting the race should not count toward the series scores given all the issues. I would certainly agree with tossing the race results if the Race Committee wants to do that.

Speaking of which, the SSYC web site is a bit sparse on the rules, saying only that there are no handicaps or protests. There is no time limit and no reference to the Racing Rules of Sailing, which leaves only the basic navigation rules from the Colregs. This gets me thinking. We racers actually behave as though at least some of the Racing Rules apply because those rules were created in order to have fair competition (as well as to prevent collisions in situations such as mark-roundings where the Colregs are pretty useless). Stuff like not being over the starting line early, not running your engine after the warning signal, not skipping a buoy (“sailing the course”), not using human propulsion (paddling, rowing, sculling, pumping, or rocking), all are part of the Racing Rules. Without those rules in play, all those things are technically legal, not that you won’t be accused of cheating if you don’t follow them. I understand that many sailors, especially beginning racers, are intimidated by the Racing Rules and their supposed complexity – or else offended at the thought of so many rules impinging on the free spirited fun of “beercan” racing. Therefore, I don’t honestly expect the SSYC or the Duck Dodge to adopt the Racing Rules, even an abbreviated version, but I honestly think it would improve the racing if they did. No more confusion about how overlaps apply at mark roundings or whether “overtaking vessels” must keep clear at all times!