Century Club: Steven Birchfield

Tooks some friends out on Monday to test a new spinnaker setup for lite air. It worked great! ....till

Wednesday evenings race, was lite to ZERO! and my plans didnt work...a slow race and a DNF.. still very disapointed. Put the sunset was amazing and the rum tasty, so not a total loss!

Nothing fancy this weekend. Couple short cruzes with family on Saturday befor the rain and Sunday befor the family got together for fathers day. 

It was a drifter! Wednesday night race was light to stupidly light. But, we made it around the 5 mile course.

 Now that its Friday and the weather is PERFECT!!! my son and I are heading out in 45mins for a cruze around the solomons area. 

Wednesday June 10th:

  A Wednesday evening beercan race had us going great out the gate with a stiff wind out of the south. Pulled into 2nd place and reeling in the boat ahead of us... After our 3rd tack to the windward mark BANG.... the headsail head strap on the sail fails! @#$! what now! We cant get the jib halyard down now!!! No problem i told my crew, bring me the #3 and pop the clutch on the spoin halyard... yanked down the damaged #2 hafe a$$ed folded it up an tossed it down stairs, hooked in the #3 and hoisted it up. Trim, Trim Trim!!! lets get back in this race! 

We didnt win, but we finished and the guys learned a good lession on what to do when a problem arises. Pround of them that night.

Saturday June 13th:

  First middle distance race for my boat and crew. 32.5 miles from PR3 around PR1 and north to 78, then south to the finish. We had a strong stiff 18-20kt breeze from the north. IT was a beat up the bay to the windward mark. Once we rounded the mark, we got set for the spinaker launce. Pole set, sheets run and clipped into the sails clews...halyard clipped in... hoist hoist hoist! and at 90% up the halyard shackel comes open dropping the head of the sail and stranding the halyard at the top of the mast! $%#@ not again!!! We dont have any spare halyards... so we made a plan and drew straws... Drop the main, unfurl the genoa, and hoist a man to the top of the mast. The smallest and lights of us on the boat was going to go up. He was also the only one afraid of hights! After we retreived the halyard and raised the main again, rest the spinaker with what felt light a whole role of tape around each shackel, the shut is set and we are rocket shipping to the finish. oh my crew that went up the mast? nothing 3 beers couldnt solve to calm down his nerves afterwards! LOL. 

Sunday June 14th:

  What do you mean all my crew cant make it to the race! @#$!.... Called in some favors and got one person who had never sailed, and one experianced sailer! good thing the boat is set up for double handed races! The start was extreamly lackluster...0-2kts of breeze from who knows ....the windex was just spining in circles. after 30 mins it filled and we were off to the mark. this time no halyard issues...please! Awesome spin set and to the finish! a great finish to a great week. Off to have a date with the wife and say thank you for letting me do my thing!