829 Southdrive

829 Southdrive

A New Jersey state of mind



Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Race For The Cured Ham





How hard could it be to start when you've been given an exact 
start time?  In the middle of the photo, we're balls to the wall,
with less than a minute and a half to the start, wishing we would
have tacked and started the approach twenty seconds earlier.
In the end, that could have made the difference between fourth
and third.  Shoulda Coulda Woulda.





The starting sequence, as per PHRF.  This way, whoever
crosses the line first wins the effin race.






Pedal to the Metal.  We were fast as shit
from start to finish.  It all boils down to sail
trim and boat speed.  I'm convinced that it's
better to foot than to point. 






Pearson sailboats dominated the racecourse.






Boats of all shapes and sizes participated in this pursuit race.





Dead center again, we were on track to working our way
through the fleet with a combination of sail trim, traveler
play, crew weight distribution, 
and full attention paid to lifts and headers. 





This guy is, week in and week out, the boat to beat.  






This is indicative of the wide range of competitors' boats.






Gosh darn Snake Stick, who was given the dubious distinction
of starting first, held out for the majority of the race and finished 
third.  A few seconds before us. 







Dead downwind  (my favorite.....not) finish.
We crept up on Snake Stick and went ahead
yards before the finish, but they eked it out at 
the short end of the line.  







Val sailing Providence II, the boat to beat.  Had there been 
300 more yards to the finish, he may have beaten us.






Antny.






Paul used to sail a Pearson 303.





Captain Bill, Tall Oaks Yacht Club Commodore.  A visionary,
a driving force behind the TOYC machine, a race official
extraordinaire, a 50/50 raffle-meister nonpareil. 

10 comments:

  1. In the 8th photo, I almost mistook that Nonsuch for a Wyliecat-30, which is my number one bucket boat.

    These photos are great! Going back over them.

    I would argue that starts in pursuit races are the hardest to nail. I think it's easier to get a good start in a typical mass start. In the former, you have to be perfect; in the latter, you just have to be good enough.

    However, I'd rather point than foot. That's the argument that always rages on my boat. I always argue that crew just wants to go fast and they're not particular in which direction. You'd fit right in.

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  2. Cured ham or not, sounds like y'all had big fun and a fair breeze!

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  3. Pleased to hear that the cure worked. I hope the ham is feeling better now.

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  4. Aw, I was hoping for a picture of the presentation of the ham!

    Sounds like a great day, though.

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  5. looks like a great time out on the water! I'm a bit jealous.

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  6. Looks like great fun!

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  7. Well, if you're losing anyway, it's more fun to foot than point.

    In other words, it's not better to have luffed and lost than never to have luffed at all.

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