Falling the clocks back was bitter-sweet. It's never fun stowing away "daylight time" for the winter but it did made it easy to hit boat time; most arrived early. The strong breeze also helped get us out to the start line quickly but admittedly, it got in my head a little watching a neighbor get blown out of control while attempting to dock as we were getting ready to go. The FBG team helped him into the correct slip and a 6 pack of ice-cold reward was at the dock for them when we returned. Karma!The course was long and fun. First mark was at the opening of the Elizabeth River and made for a great running start downwind. The rest was beating and reaching to Middle Ground Light, another mark off the Navy Base, back to Newport News Channel and then home to the Hampton River entrance. It was a nice ride that provided some heavy-air sailing experience for me.
The frequent gusts over 20 mph and the base-line of 12 made sail selection a challenge. We went with the blade but I think a #2 would have been a better compromise (if we had one). The heavy #1 was defiantly too much. With the blade we had great control in the puffs and kept the boar level. And we moved up from an 8 the week before to a 7. Next week 6? Thanks to Tim, Hammer, Rodney and Mike for getting us around the race course. See you next week!
Give it all you got!
Fat Bottom Girl
USA 30812
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