Flying Scot NAC - Day 5 - Race Day 1

Posted by Mark Taylor, FS4321

Update July 22, Results posted at www.fssa.com then click results (Not Toms River YC)

Hey - 1st day is done.

There are 20 challenger and 50 championship teams. We sailed out in no wind and started the first race in 4 knots of breeze. Got a good start 1/4 way down from boat, horn went off and tacked imediatly to port. Had a boat pinching below me and a guy footing above me. Quick tack to left - ooopsss hear the toilet flush. Left was bad! Had to claw back to the 25. On a good note we were fast downwind. Hung tough with Fred/Fred Strammer and Ryan (MadSails).

What we learned - tide only changes .3 of a foot but the current was ripping. The starting line was down in a corner next to a bridge. Everyone that started at the pin end and went left near the bridge ran aground. Ask Chip Merlin - Hunter actually jumped off the boat to see what was wrong with the board. That seems slow......

Had to go right to get out of current, on the right was a point about 3/4 of the way up bottom was muck. Hard to tell when you ran aground. Yah, we did it, helm went to crap and I freaked.

Race 2 - 1/4 way from boat and tacked immediatley to port again. Breeze between 6 and 8. Fought hard to stay in the top 20. Breeze up and down shifting 10/20 degrees. Still had to hit the soft bottom on the right.

NAC's and run aground - go figure. If you have not seen, Allan/Katie Turhune are kicking our ass. Dad and I are in 19 with a 25 and a 19. Scores are all over the place.

Had club party/dinner with Chip Merlin. Hunter went to bed. I guess his swim wore him out, Chip promises to come sail with us and actually had his club application with him. Hey, I still have his drink card if anyone is thirsty!!