Trifecta #2, even sweeter!

No race on the 18th Aug, due to ongoing storms. The racing was cancelled first via e-mail and then over VHF at the appropriate times.

Aug 25th - Trouble was RC again! Are they our lucky charm?? Our our cruel tease??

Wind was W and going left, more than expected when we went out at around 7kn. Trouble came out late and set up by K. Course: J, L, S - all green. Line was almost perp to wind which was good and the clockwise course was all to Starboard which was also an improvement!

The start sequence was bizarre, with the horn, timing and orange flag all over the shop! But I figured they were tracking GPS time, and starting at 1830 exactly. When it went tits up I got back to the line as fast as I could, but I spun too hard and completely stalled the boat and removed the air attachment to the sails. We sat for 30 seconds before moving, but still had a decent start at the boat end.

I wanted to go right as soon as I could and we did. We got out to pressure and a little lift. 3 of us went there, us, CYMRU and Bona Dia, and we crushed the rest of the fleet that went to the shore. The boat was feeling good, and with the settings I created the other week, I knew the sails were trimmed correctly and I could focus on driving. We had good speed and impressive point in the 4-5kn of breeze.


We rounded first, followed closely by CYMRU and then Bona.

Tub came up fast and was abeam but to weather and sailing higher angles for no gain. The wind was down to about 4 kn now, and Brigite did great to keep the chute working.

Trouble shortened the course mid-leg, to finish close to L. We had to gybe to get to them, but were first to finish, with a couple of minutes to spare! Next was Tub, then Bona and Cymru.

Another Trifecta for FOXY, and this one felt better! First to finish, first in class and first overall. Sweet. And should have propelled us into second overall for the series!!!

Trifecta #1

Couple more races to report...

8/11/2010 - Veraldi was supposed to be RC, but Trouble showed up and took it. The pin was upwind of the boat! The clockwise course had port roundings, and there was no beat. Ok, this was going to be interesting!!!

We had a good start, but I lost sight of the line and was probably late as I was cautious reaching into the line (at the favored pin), but I dug a good hole and was clear to leeward.

We sailed high to not get rolled by the bigger boats, but Seal got over us, we let them go. Veraldi was ahead and drove Seal to the moon, allowing us to close the gap back leading into the mark.

We rounded and thread the needle through the Stbd tackers and had another close reach from K to J. A good leg for us as we kept high with clean air. Got a nice puff card to power us around the mark - another 270 degree turn, and off on the run.

We hoisted clean and were off. Again protecting high. We rolled a couple of big jammers and they blanketed Tub who was clear ahead of everyone. Mike was very late to get a chute up, and we are faster downwind, so we got overlapped with him.

The s mark was red, so to be left to port, and I think I was the only one to realize it. Tub didn't and went straight through the line and thus sailed the wrong course! We told Mike and the bog jammers about the red S and everyone followed us.

We doused the spinn, didn't unfurl and rounded up to finish - first to finish! Mike a BL behind, and then the jammers. We got a late horn from Trouble the RC boat, as I think they were also confused about our finish!

So our trifecta was: first to finish, first overall & first in class. Sweet. BTW: I think we would have corrected over the Tub had they finished legally. Results are MIA, even 2 weeks later, but I am holding out hope they will yet get to the scorer, so we can get our just dues.

Cape Charles Cup Cruise

A spectacular weekend cruise, shadowing the annual Cape Charles Cup regatta.

We didn't want to race in the Cape Charles Cup, but did want to cruise over there and participate in the party. Had a late start in the morning, leaving at 1100. Forecast was for E winds all weekend, warm conditions and no weather expected.

Beautiful sunny Saturday morning, NE breeze around 13 knots and smooth seas. We put on the cruising sails (#5 main and #3 jib (105%)) and headed out just after the last of the racing fleets had departed.

Strong flood swept us over towards buckroe, and we were about 30 degrees west of the Rhumb. We were powered up with the #3 so long as the wind was 12 kn or more, and we were close hauled. Fully powered up at 14+ true.

Lovely relaxing sail towards cape charles, and we caught up with the back quarter of the racing/cruising boats, remarkably even the catamarans, which were all surprisingly slow, and we overtook them doing only 5.x knots. I guess they don't go upwind!

It got quite light, to around 8 knots, and we were going slow - but no problem as we were in cruising mode. Got some breeze closer to the E shore, and sailed up to Cape Charles before starting the donk.

We perfected the settings for the #3, with the car in hole 7, and a nice inhauler just behind the aftermost shroud. Provided a good angle of attack and some shape in the foot. Just got to remember to take off the inhauler before tacking!!!

We motored up to Bay Creek, which was full and we rafted up there. Enjoyed the dock parties, and the BBSA (which we are members) beer and punch. It was a gorgeous evening, and we left before sunset to get the hook down before dark.

We had wanted to go up Cherrystone Creek, but had never been there before. Our newly refurbished depthsounder was spotty at best, but worked when we needed it most! With the GPS we navigated up the small channell and only had one soft bump as I went a tad to far west of the channel.

Beautiful sunset as we dropped the hook and started the BBQ. Peaceful night, with no other tourists nor boats around, the only noise was from the party and live bands over at Bay Creek.

Not a sound all night, and no waves or wake, etc. It was almost eerie and too still, whereby one thinks something is wrong because its so quiet. Didn't sleep great in the little bunk, and woke at sunrise around 0620. Checked everything on deck and went back to sleep.

Woke again at 0900 and we had breakfast and headed out against a strong tide. Suprising how strong the tide was running into the little bay since there is not a large water mass in there. Good breeze out of the SE, stronger closer to shore.

Ran aground on the way out, probably too close to the little grass island close to the channel split with Bay Creek. Got off ok, from the slow, soft landing.

Beat our way against the tide up to Kiptopeake. The cruising sails were ideal, but it took forever to make the 8.5 miles because of the tide. Dropped the hook around 1500, and we were short of time so we didn't use the dingy. Brigite swam ashore, and I scrubbed the bottom of the boat & followed her to the beach. We had a nice walk and then headed for home, pulling the hook around 1600.

Tight reach coming back with a solid 15kn and choppy water. We were nice and fast on the rhumb line, but it was a bumpy ride at times, and a handful for the autopilot which we used sparingly. Just past third island we came upon a very active school of dolphins. They were splashing away, and then started jumping clear out of the water! It was a great show, and we got a couple of photos of airborne mammals.

Came into the cut around sunset and were in the car with the boat buttoned up and rinsed by 2100. A great weekend, and a much needed overnight cruise.

Racing Update

Couple of races to report on...

On 7/21/10 the third series began, and per my math Silver Fox was 3rd in the second series! I am pleased with that, even though it was pretty much an attendance prize.

We are the slowest boat in the racing fleet, of that there is no doubt, and the top 3 boats will always beat us, unless they do something really dumb. The top boats are: Turbo's Tub, Quickie and Schock.

7/21/10 - there was a good flood tide running and a light WNW breeze. We had a killer start, with the competition all over early, and trying to fight the current back to restart.

We tacked out to get to the breeze, as the shore was very light. It was a good move, but the wind was left, so the shore guys who came out late didn't get completely slaughtered!

Overstood a tad at Y, but in the mix. Caught Quickie in the run, and were not far behind Schock. I was thinking we had this in the bag, as the last leg would be a close reach, not enough for the competition to get away from us.

But then the wind suddenly went right 60 degrees from a run to a tight reach. We were stuck to the water, while the competition slipped away. The boats behind also came up and passed us. It was like we were at anchor or something!!!

We did a bit better in the drifter run to the finish, and beat Baserunner scratch, but it was frustrating to have been stuck to the water for so long, trying to get some sails up that would free us.

7/28/10 - Brigite & I flew to Michigan this evening and missed the racing. We were going there for the Little Traverse Regatta with Carter on his J/105. There seemed to be a good breeze, and was a good 7 mile race.

8/4/10 - Very puffy SW wind on this evening. Gusts to 18 by my estimation. We went with the #3, as the 1 is too hard to tack in that much breeze. We had another killer start at the favored pin, at speed and with clear air.

Tacked to get accross the big boats, before they pinned us to the left. Got a lift and were overstood, letting some boats below in there.

Gybed and had a nice set, were faster than Quickie so overtook them with only the Tub ahead. But in the beat we were underpowered, and with the outboard sheeting had no point at all with the #3. The wind was decreasing as the race went on.

It was a relaxing, fun race, that we enjoyed, and the boat is unscathed, which is important to us.

Sat Evening Cruise Aug 7th.

Been busy racing in Newport (Rolex J/105 ECC's), and Harbor Springs (Little Traverse), so not been much cruising on Silver Fox over the past few weeks.

But took the boat out today, as there was some breeze out of the NE, around 7kn, and a warm sunny evening. Sailed upwind and got some good upwind settings on the main with the AP driving. Brigite had to do paperwork so I was on my own.

Sailed out past L to the channel markers, then put the chute up and sailed to the house, dropped the hook and called B. But the sun was settings, so it was getting late.

So I sailed back, and it was a lovely sail as it got dark.

Got in and rinsed the boat down and by the time everything was put away it was 10pm.

It was great to get out and have some quality time with the boat on the water!

Ralph Out.