Saturday, January 3 Race

The wind was from the west, so the seas were calm. The temperature was perfect. The wind was about ten knots, building a little later. It was perfect sailing conditions.

Four boats came out to race - Faraway, Second Mates, Zephyr II, and Puff. We started eastbound between the outer two channel buoys, sailed east around the PE buoy, then south to the end of the Dania Pier, and then back to the starting line, finishing to the West, headed back into the harbor. The course worked well. Faraway, Second Mates, and Puff stayed out for an hour after the race, enjoying the beautiful sailing with friends. Zephyr headed back, because of the long ICW passage to Hallandale. Everyone had a wonderful time.

Faraway led the pack, as expected, because she is fast and expertly sailed. Puff sailed well, and was a very pretty sight. Zephyr is a blue-water boat with shrouds on chainplates, so she can't sheet her jib very close to point high, and she lagged on the windward leg, but made up for it a little on the downwind leg. We are trying to figure out why Second Mates struggles in light air.

We look forward to the next race, in two weeks, on January 17th.