Here is this weeks update. Last Wednesday after a weather front moved past leaving us with winds 18-25kts. We got a clean start and did fairly well up the first leg, wind continued to build and we had a bit of a wild ride. We decided to error on the side of caution and did not raise a spinnaker as did a good chunk of the fleet. We sailed past one of our competition that was having lots of problems with their spinn. Fun to watch but I would not have wanted to be on that boat, lots of yelling. We ended up taking 11th and that places us in 8th for this series. Thanks to Brendon, Marcin, Michelle, NancyS, Nora and newbie Jonathon.

Last Sunday was the other extreme. When we got out to the starting line there was less than 3 kts of wind. As the starting gun went off the wind dropped to almost zero. It took us 12 minutes to get across the starting line. But we were not the last. It took Gremlin almost 37 min to get across the line and they were right next to us at the start. We worked up the first leg passing one of the J105's and would have been in-front of the other on corrected time. As we approached the first mark the wind dropped again to zero kts. We drifted around the first mark then floated down to the second and third while watching the J105's sail away and Gremlin catch up. We then drifted into the parking lot that the J105's were stuck in at the third mark catching them but Gremlin was still charging ahead. Once we got around the third mark things were better but still less than 4 kts. Once we reached the fourth mark a drenching soaking rain set it, that was the bad news, the good news was that the wind had picked up to almost 6 kts and we started charging ahead but there was not enough racecourse left. We ended up fourth and that puts us in third for the weekend series. Thanks to the waterlogged versions of Brendon, Danny, Marcin, Michelle and NancyS.

Saturday was a great day, weather was threatening but storms held off, wind was a nice 8-15kts and the team work was great. It all came together and we were the second boat across the line very close to Y-Not and after the handicapping was done we corrected to first, our first win of the season. Thanks to Navbob, Brendon, NancyS, Mancin and Wally.

Sunday was another story threatening weather with lots of puffy storms, worst case we got drizzled on while 1-2 miles away they got drenched. Wind was highly variable ranging from 0- 20kts. We ended up sailing into and around the boats in the Colors regatta. After rounding SE2 the wind died leaving us sitting on the water, it filled in but only after forty five frustrating minutes of watching the front three boats sail away. Once the wind filled in and we got going we managed to finish after 4PM Arrg! Despite some good team work with lots of spinnaker hoists and douses we came in 5th. Thanks to Brendon, Michelle and Marcin.

We are now in 3rd place for the weekend series.

Sunday 5/23, nice day. course was around the cribs, A slow start but a good upwind leg, not a bad down wind leg but we blew the spinnaker takedown, our first one of the year. Overall we ended up in 5th place. Thanks to Nora, NancyS, Jordan, Dan, Marcin, and Mark.

Wednesday 5/26 Nice night. Very aggressive start got fouled but no contact (but it was this close). Slow upwind leg good down wind legs and a slow upwind leg put in us 10th place. Thanks to Nora, NavBob, and Marcin.

Wednesday 6/2. Not so nice night. earlier in the day storms moved past and when we started there was a line of storms stretching from the Quad Cities to Green Bay and heading our way. During the pre-start sequence we got to watch a collision between two bigger boats, wiping out stantions tearing sails and trashing bow pulpits, fortunately no one was injured and we were not involved. The wind was light till the last leg when the approaching storm caused the wind to build. We again ended up 10th. On the ride in wind gusted up to 22kts but we got the boat docked, put away and beers open before the rain started coming down. Thanks to Nora, NavBob, Brendon and Michelle.

This weekend we have racing on Saturday and Sunday. I think we are good for crew on Saturday but could use a body on Sunday, see crew signup for details

Last Wednesday was the crew school practice race, We ended up using Cyclone as the RC boat then we chased after the fleet. The boat sails well and looks like we are well in tune. We did well on the first leg but the wind was dying fast so we headed in to the club. Thanks to Brendon, Michelle and Jim J, head instructor from Crew School for helping out.

First race is this Sunday. Boat call is 11:00 AM but I'll be down at the boat early to get the electronics hooked up and a few other things, I could use a hand or two, let me know if you can come early. Newbies let me know your availability via email.