At 1pm this afternoon we started our race to Hawaii. The conditions could not have been better for both racers and spectators. We were sent off by a tremendous fleet of the race fans that came out for Sunday afternoon pleasure cruises.
In an effort to start at the favored pin end of the line, we were pushed over early, by a couple aggressive boats below us, just before the gunsounded. This forced us to dip around the pin end of the line and restart. Because we were quick to respond we didn't loose that much on the fleet and were able to reach down into a clear lane of wind. By the time we reached Catalina Island, 20 miles upwind, we were back in touch with the leaders. With some fabulous crew work, that included 8 tacks and 2 sail changes below the rock cliffs of Catalina Island, we found ourselves in front of our class. The other front runners in our class our Alchemy and Pyewacket.
Right now we are exactly where I hoped we'd be coming around Catalina Island. We have our with our bow poked out just a bit and are in the leeward lane... Just the perfect place to execute our race plan over the next 48 hours. Curious what that plan is? Well, I'm not going to tell you. You'll just have to wait and see what we have up our sleeves.
-Matt out
33 22.3 N
118 44.4 W
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2 comments:
It was awesome to be out on the water watching the start from a ridiculously beautiful yacht! Power sails and winches...now that's my kind of sailing! Great work to get back with the leaders. Safe travels!
Good luck Smithers! Glad to see you still at it full time.
Signed the tall fellow who gave you the damn name that won't go away.
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