Posted by Jacqui MacConnell (jacimacc@…>)
There are two yacht clubs here. BYC: Bellingham. CYC:
Corinthian. The latter club doesn’t own a building,
rents a great spot once a month for potlucks and a
lecture, is comprised of only sailors, and
occasionally
hosts a fun race. CYC costs $35 a year, which includes
reciprocities. BYC is the haute club we’ve raced
under.
Has a fine building. Has a long strong history of race
support. Hosts the P.I.T.C.H., among other regarded
events. Includes reciprocities (the same), and cost$$
more.
BYC race series starts next Saturday, first Saturday
in March. The Frostbite Series. For the serious. That
is
when my hearty crew generally begins.
CYC had something yesterday, so we went. We haven’t
raced with them before. But we’ve supported both
clubs.
Gotta love this approach to a course. Skippers’
meeting at a kids’ marine animal touch tank. Marks and
course discussed, but none too definitively. And of
course, no committe boat or actual marks. That’s
for the unimaginative?
We head out and the dead calm of morning begins to
shift. Discussion ensues. Fine Helm, Bruce Reid, had
attended the earlier meeting. I was home cooking stew
for crew. We go to where we thought the start was.
Did they say “a green pelican”, or “the vessel named
Green Pelican?”
I, misunderstanding, say, “oh, far out. We NEVER see
pelicans up this North. Where did you say they’d been
seen, again?” The three lovely young middle school
gals dispute their dad’s recollections. They were also
at the early skippers’ meeting. We vote by who is on
the wheel, Bruce, and head to a green port can.
Alas, the other boats do not. We reassess. We are now
solidly in last, one boat in four of the chilly fleet
of seven.
But we’re dead even with those~! The wind gets real.
Helm Bruce says, “this seems to be what she likes
best.”
I said, “yup, anything over ten knots makes it
worthwhile. Twice that, we are really in our element.”
And so we were. For most of the next three hours.
We came in second in real time, were probably first if
it had been a handicapped race. All time made up. The
middle parts of the race were hilarious. Seven good
boats, going all directions all over greater
Bellingham Bay.
Down toward Eliza Island and Portage, over by
Chuckanut
Bay. I would peek up from below from time to time
trying
to guess what the course was. There never seemed to
be
a by-course-taken revealed consensus. Interesting way
to
hold a race. Think scavenger hunt plus sailboat.
But Bruce did the Freedom tactician thing well. Go
where the wind is. Never mind about your apparent
standing. And we eventually SMOKED 'em. This is the
first time I have ever seen her heeled so far over
that
there was some green coming up over a toe rail. Still,
she was steady as a rock. What a boat.
Thank you T.P.I., thank you Mr. Gary Mull.
We motored to our slip, and the new rain (great
timing) developed an attitude very quickly. It bit
your cheeks. The girls and I shrieked happily, “oh my
gosh, it’s SNOWING!” And we put Sparrow to bed
docilely in a light flurry. Bragging rights clutched
solidly in hand.
The kids got to select a prize at the rambunctious
dinner after. They picked a very fancy 3-D kite of a
pirate ship. We’ll fly that behind on the CYC “Dress
Like a Pirate” race later in the season. One can only
hope the club will tell us in which bay to race.
But…whatever. We’re game.
Meantime crew gets set for the “real racers” beginning
next Saturday. And they dare call that series
“Frostbite?”
Harummph.
Out early, having fun.
Here’s to our Freedoms!
Captain Jac, SPARROW
F36/38 Hull #48
Bellingham, Washington State
\
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com