Pursuit Race - Monday, September 5

SUMMARY AND RESULTS

The weather started sunny with a nice breeze from the west.  The forecast was for rain and thunderstorms in the afternoon but the intrepid sailors decided to chance it.  The Race Committee set the shorter course to get all home before the storms.  Race Officer Bob Kellogg set the crews off to do battle, starting with Jane Grace at 1300 followed shortly thereafter by Fiddler's Green from the end of the fairway.  Puffin, Denali, and Second Chance had a staid start off the end float at 1315 before the crowded 1319 start.  Picture 5, 27 - 41 footers jockeying for position like Lasers inside the last float awaiting their start with all hitting the line at once, not for the faint of heart!  The Etchells started next as the big girls brought up the rear.  A quick motorsail out the anchorage, some chutes to Sturdivant Island Ledges before the slog to windward against a fierce tide to Ponce Landing pulled the fleet together.  The Etchells, J/27s, J/24s rounded en mass.  A quick reach to Chandlers Cove before jibing away to the "Danger Buoy" found County Girl's "Pinky" showing her speed but Fiddler's Green held her lead.  As the fleet headed for its finish at the end of the PYC fairway, the ominous blackness appeared from Blackstrap Hill.  Fiddler's Green wins by two boatlengths over More Cowbell, the J/24s cross overlapped, the entire fleet finishes within 5 minutes and then swiftly de-rigs as they run for their moorings to avoid the storm.  Thunder rolls as the launches quickly clear the anchorage.  Ashore, drinks and munchies precede the awards for the top five boat in each division.

Cruising Division

1   Fiddler's Green           Jimi Cullum

2   White Hawk               Tim Tolford

3   Nessus                        Pete Hall

4   Jane Grace                  Skip Yale

5   Enterprise                   Neal Weinstein

6   Atlantis                       Alan Kanegsberg

7   Starbird                       Dave Robinson

8   Reflections                 Erik Greven

9   Sabredancer               Brannon Claytor

10   Southern Cross        Chris Loader/Steve Hudson

11   Puffin                         Susan Gilpin

 Racing Division

 1   More Cowbell           Chris Morin

2   Tango                        Pamela Thomas

3   County Girl               Bill Newberry

4   Denali                        Tony Jessen

5   Second Chance         Jeff Smith

 P.S.  It never rains on the Pursuit Race!

Earlier Information

What staggers at the start but finishes strong? A pursuit race, of course! It begins with the highest-rated boats leaving the PYC float with a five minute engine-assisted run out the fairway. Successive boats will start in order of descending rating.

Time gaps between starts reflect differences in rating and corrected time based on course length. If all goes according to the ratings, all boats should converge at the finish off the PYC fairway en masse, with a spirited (or spirits-filled) audience on the Clubhouse porch cheering loudly.

The course will be set in advance, covering possible close-ups of Whitehead Passage, Diamond Island Pass, Fish Point, House Island, Chandler Cove and other sights determined by a creative Race Committee.  Hand-made trophies will be awarded for both Cruising and Racing Divisions after a great day's sail.

NOTE:  in part because of the storm-caused postponement of this race, both the Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions have changed. Here is where you can pursue the official skinny:

Notice of Race:  2011_pursuit_race_nor.pdf  

Sailing Instructions:  2011_pursuit_ race_si.pdf  

Registration is required; there is a late fee after the first deadline.  Register by e-mailing your boat name, your name, and your PHRF rating if you have one.  If you don't, then include your boat's length, displacement, size of largest jib, and whether you will use a spinnaker.