Century Club: Michael Nepini

Unique and challenging conditions for my first gov cup and the first gov cup in many years for Eighth Deadly Sin. Started off under the #3 and quickly changed to the spinnaker to take advantage of the downwind conditions, ran under that for about 30 minutes before deciding it was overpowering the boat so we put up the heavy #1 and pressed on. We were able to hold impressive boat speed all the way down to the calvert cliffs plant where we switched back to the #3 on account of increasing wind and sea state. We stuck close to the rhumb line until just south of the navy base but the wind started pushing us closer to the eastern shore. Took a slightly wide rounding of the point lookout light and then had a slightly quieter run up the Potomac and St. Mary's as conditions lightened. Crossed the finish line at 3:38 AM for the fastest finish ever on Sin. Overall a great race and great to see potential in the crew. 

Little bit of a slow start into a strong upwind leg, rounded put up the chute and ran back down. The wind backed off for the second round so we had a slow slog to the finish. Photo: Lynn Crosby

Smooth but slow race

Light winds at the start but we were able to get a good position heading to the harbor light, winds picked up at the light and we had a very smooth spin set. Held a good reach under spinnaker for a long way up the river until we sailed into a no wind hole and slowed down. Winds continued to be variable up the bay so we doused the spin, sailed under our jib for a while before re-launching the spin. The wind died off as we were coming up to the ruins of the key bridge and we had a slow crawl up the harbor to a shortened finish at Fort McHenry.