Light wind race night

 

Tonight the Yaquina Bay Yacht Club race on the bay was a light wind affair.  Start at the Coast Guard mooring buoy, up to 11, down to 12A and then back to the CG buoy for the finish.   Wind was forecast to be from the SW at around 4.5 knots “gusting” up to 6 knots.  Going to super calm as the night went on.   The forecast was right.

We ran the 155% (North Sails M1) genoa and the main with the outhaul loosened up a good bit.  Upwind we ran with little backstay and the traveler up about 3/4 to windward.  Lots of main sheet out to put the boom around mid line.  Some good twist in the sail let the top main telltale fly sometimes when the others were barely going.  Down lower the wind was just not moving.   

We ended up neck and neck with a 420 on the final stretch and that was exciting.  We had to cross the tidal current to get to the finish line.  The wind totally died down just as we neared the finish.  Nobody finished the race.  All the others farther up the course had given up.  Then we saw the 420 paddling in and gave it another minute and packed it in ourselves.

Very cool how the Wilderness 21 does well in light wind.  That 155% genoa is a great sail.  It really blocks our view of competitors or obstacles though.  The foot swoops down following just below the rail all the way back.   Love that sail though.   Getting it tacked around in light wind can be fun but we get it going.  We roll tack the boat in light air to help.  Also leave it sheeted in until it backwinds a little to help get it around.

Almost scored our first win.  So much fun!

The 155% seen from the downwind side.  Swoops down along the hull which is good for performance but doesn’t leave any gap for visibility.