Run Through the Ringer and Proud of It

Sheesh, here I go again.  Exhausted.  Puzzled.  Pleased.  Not quite fulfilled, but very satisfied.  And if that doesn't make a lot of sense then I am describing it well.  That's kind of how our race went.

The sailing was great all weekend and I am really proud of our our team.  Huge effort from each of us to get the boat ready, commit the time, energy and money to make this happen.  

I think it is hilarious that part of me is grumbling about finishing second, and for those of us who might also be doing this, stop, laugh at yourself, and then remember what a great race we had.  We led all boats overall on corrected time at the mark.  Um, Icon, The Car, Braveheart?  In sight at the Bank, after something like 90 miles of upwind work in a wide range of conditions.  Upwind the boat was more dialed in than I can ever remember especially considering how varied the sailing was.  

And when Drummer got away from us we did everything humanly possible to reel them back in.  20 sail changes executed flawlessly and usually with a grin that said "what's next?"  Ridiculous spinnaker peels that we ought to have caught on video.  The boat was fast, the sailing was fun, and our team is firing on all cylinders.  Everyone drove, trimmed, did pit, cooked, washed dishes, made cookies, offered peanut gallery comments, laughed, and struggled together as we gutted out a tough race.

No, we didn't win.  But we didn't do many things wrong either.  Al might say that we should have covered our fleet, but he is pretty tough on himself.  And we were in the hunt for the overall win, so going to the USA-side when we were (unanimously) sure it was the safer bet was a call that we would (and probably will) make again.

I couldn't be happier with our progress and I am excited to begin the final phase of our preparations.  Lots of work between now and Hawaii, but as a team, we are ready.  

Thanks to everybody for your hard work.  I hope you had as much fun as I did!

PS. Even the delivery was great.  Wickedly fast spinnaker reach across the straits.  Customs clearance in Port Townsend was easy and painless.  Thanks to Customs in PT/PA--not sure if you guys read sailing blogs, but if this is the kind of welcome you give our foreign guests when they show up in a sailboat, then you are doing great things for our country.  Thank you for giving up your Memorial Day to help us come home!