Knock, Knock

“Who’s there?”

“Bad tactical call.”

“Bad tactical call who?”

“Bad tactical call made by you!”

Wow, Last night’s decision to try the Fort Adams shore for current relief ranks right up there with some of the worst tactical calls I've ever made. We weren’t two or three minutes into the race—but one or two minutes past the point of no return—when I realized things we’re not looking good for the home team. By the time we reached the cable crossing markers off the Fort I knew the race was all but over. There had to be a knot or more of foul current running past those buoys, which are a stone’s throw from the shore. So much for the current relief. Not even Rolaids could rescue this one. Ugh. It was all we could do to cross the finish line going downwind before the first boat took the gun.

I’m not sure whether this is just my impression, but the path to success this year, especially in southerly breezes, seems to always lie on the Jamestown shore. Current coming in, head right. Current going out, head right. Slack current…well you get the picture. [Now, hopefully, so do I].

The second race was better. We bailed out early and headed right. Spending most of the leg sailing in bad air was no fun, but there didn’t seem to be many options. Finding clear air meant bucking more current.

It’s been a strange summer series for the Crack of Noon team. We were fairly consistent in the spring and one would think that would bode well for the Summer Series. But we’ve been all over the map in July and August. First one race, second another, then third to last, second to last, etc. Whoops. Not much time left to right the ship, especially with the summer series ending before Labor Day this year. Which reminds me, Lee Buress is looking for suggestions for the fall series. September is a great month to sail in Newport, so let’s find a way to make the most of it. Email any ideas to lburess(at)criticalpathsolutions.net