Fleet 61 2008 fall series, week 4

Nine boats showed up for the final official day of racing in Fleet 61's 2008 season. Earlier in the day, a 10 kt easterly had sprung up, but had mostly blown itself out by the time racing started. The RC set up a course with 1/2 mile legs.

Race 1 (4 legs) was sailed in about 6 kts, with lots of shifts. At the start, Don't Panic lined up for a pin-end start and found themselves all alone as the rest of the fleet fought over the boat end. It turned out that going right was the smart thing to do on the first leg, with more pressure on that side, out of the lee of City Island. Big gains and losses happend on the downwind legs, as those boats that went right downwind found themselves stuck in a hole.

Race 2 (6 legs) started in the same 6 kts easterly, which held for 5 legs. Once again, the downwind legs made the difference. After the last windward mark, the leaders all dug hard left, looking for the afternoon seabreeze to fill in out of the southwest. The seabreeze did eventually fill in, but not until the fleet was back at the clubhouse enjoying a beverage. Meanwhile, back on the race course, the leaders got hung out to dry, with just enough of the easterly left on the right side to let Trouble and Don't Panic ghost over the line neck-and-neck for a one-two finish.

Eben Hansmire on the RC boat made a wise move and sent the racers home after two races.

Once again, this was Heat Wave's day, taking first with 5 points. Jeepers edged out Don't Panic for second with a tie-breaker at 6 points, with Trouble winning the tie-breaker with Powerplay for fourth with 7 points.