Winds were predicted to be 15 – 20mph out of the East with gusts of up to 25mph. The weather community hit this one right on the nose as some of the racer, both Fleet 29 and LMSA were sceptic about hitting the lake for the race. But, several Flying Scots, two Hobie Waves and three Fleet 29’ers left the dock.
With winds this high, crews had to manage their race strategy a little differently than the normal around the buoy race. Do you fly the spinnaker or do you just use working sails? Do you go wing on wing or ride off the wind and take the waves as they roll at you? Huge challenges were in front for the three SJ21 crews that came to sail.
The first race, Ole Yella got off the line first followed by Irish Juan and then Black Jack! Just after passing the leeward mark Irish tacked crossing Black Jack and sprinted to the right side of the course. From there it was a chase game for the fleet to catch Irish Juan. Ole Yella followed the same tactics as Irish.
At the top mark, the Irish Juan team chanced not flying the spinnaker and sailed off the wind the opposite side for the course before jibbing towards the leeward mark. Black Jack set up for the spinnaker run but with the difficulties with the gusts decided to take down and use working sails. The Irish Juan crew took their first bullet in a race for the 2017 season!
Race two & three were about the same as the first as Irish Juan seemed to be dialed in for higher winds and weight distribution. Giving Mike Loughlin and Andy Forrest their first bullet in the Fleet 29 club series on Irish Juan.
Congrats to the Irish Juan team!
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