Today was the last day of the 2023 505- Class Worlds, and it was our best day – by far. Yay 😁
Yes, the patch held. In fact we improved it:
First we covered the duct tape with plastic from a trash liner, then we secured the whole with plastic waterproof tape. It’s not pretty but it stayed dry 🎉
It was a beautiful day on the Bay, the warmest so far I think, and a nice breeze which built into about 15 by mid-afternoon.
The tide and current were a factor again; start of the day there was a big flow in, by the end the tide turned and there was a big ebb out.
Calm early on in the boatyard and on the docks.
Last minute repairs (not us); this view nicely shows the “spaghetti factory” cockpit of a 505 🙂
We all sailed out and prepared to race. Boats all over the Bay before the start.
But things were delayed, a Polish boat ran over the starting mark and their rudder became tangled in the anchor line. Normally this would not be a big deal, but with a 4 knot current it was most difficult for them to get detangled.
Finally they became free and the start resumed. We had our best race, clean start, good weather legs, trouble free runs back down, and finished in good shape. Yay!
The current was so strong at the weather mark it was necessary to overstand by a mile. Many people did not, and got caught in the “triangle of death” below the offset leg. We only had to try twice to make it around 🙂
All in all a good day – finally – the patch held, the new mast behaved, the rudder and sails worked – whew!
Even my new phone case worked … 🥳
Coming in was a frenzy; everyone in a hurry to pull out, rinse, and start packing up their boats. The launch dock was like the 405 at rush hour.
We were able to get things sorted and ready for the road in no time.
I had a chance to watch the Europeans load their shipping container with nine boats 😮
Took them very little time, many had obviously done this before. Most impressive.
So that wraps the sailing! Now on to the galactic World Championship dinner and trophy presentation…
San Fran Five-Oh 