Grand Prix 2010

Class 4 of the Grand Prix looked like a mixed bag, to say the least.  11 boats, weighing from 1700 to 17000 lbs, a number of previous Grand Prix, Swiftsure (3) , Whidbey Island Race Week (2), RTC (2), and PSSC winners, plus us and a couple of other odd ball boats.  And then throw in 4 J-105s just for good measure.  We felt lucky to be in the fleet and weren't expecting to be on the podium, but we were determined to see if having our full crew aboard could level the field for us after the poor showing at PSSC.

The forecast was for moderate winds for first two days.  The wind failed to show, and we were forced back into light air mode.  We finished 7th on Friday, and dropped to 10th on Saturday, although we were only 10 points out of third.

Sunday was a different deal.  The wind piped up to the mid-twenties and stayed there.  We were 4th after the first race, 2nd after the 3rd, and ended up winning the final race by narrowly beating Different Drummer and saving our time over the J-105 Allegro Vivace, who was less than a minute behind us.

Overall, we finished mid-pack.  If this had been scored more normally, with the DNF or DNC boats who dropped out as the wind build scored as # entered +1, the final day's 4, 2, 1 might have gotten us on the podium.  Instead, the two days of light air hurt us, as one of the heaviest boats in the fleet, and the first 4 races outweighed the last three.

But we got progressively better, and did well against perennial winners Shoot the Moon, and against Different Drummer (helmed by Ullman's Chris Winnard).  So we felt good about the effort against respectable competition.  And we had a great time. Becca made lasagna that was the envy of the fleet too, thanks for that!

Photos are here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/38131227@N06/galleries/72157625111549127/

Kotuku Gets Clobbered!

We had a great weekend of sailing, just not great results.   The weather was a bit of a mixed bag, but we learned a lot despite the adverse conditions (lots of rain, little breeze).  Results weren't pretty, but they are telling.  The little guys beat us up pretty good in the light stuff, but then we give away 4-5 tons to most of the fleet.  Occasionally we surprised them--beat most of the boats boat for boat at some point--and that was fun, at least.

Saturday, we had a lot of new faces in new places, and we had a tough time with boat speed and tactics.  Sunday, Bob brought leadership that we'd been lacking, helped us find the pointing groove with the new #1, and got us into the thick of it with some good tactical calls that put the fleet behind us.  Temporarily.  When we had breeze and room to stretch our legs, we made back some of the ground we lost by being OCS in 3 of 9 races.  Who was driving, anyway?  Apparently we thought it was better to be aggressive than good.

To win against good competition and overcome PHRF's rating challenges, we need to be consistent, and maybe consistently brilliant.  PSSC showed just how far we have to go as a boat, and as a team.  But we learned some things and we got better, even over the course of a 2 day regatta.

Consistency will come to us.  

Brad, Al, and Stu will eventually come back to the PNW, we hope...

The boat is a work in progress but she will get lighter and she will get faster.  

And she will race with a clean bottom next time too.

Kotuku 3rd in Star and Bar

Once again a decent finish, but not a regatta we were particularly proud of.  Short handed though, 6 each day, and light air to boot.  I think we are all satisfied with the result.


Review and photos here:


http://www.pressure-drop.us/forums/showthread.php?691-Star-amp-Bar-next-weekend-SYC-regatta-and-the-Moore-NW-fleet-Championship-trophy

Kotuku 3rd in Northern Century

Nice write-up and race review here from Stranger, who was close to us most of the way (but ended up blowing by us at Turn Point)

http://forums.sailinganarchy.com/index.php?showtopic=109816&view=findpost&p=2974172


Video and Photos here

http://forums.sailinganarchy.com/index.php?showtopic=113246&st=0&p=2988384&hl=northern%20century&fromsearch=1&#entry2988384