and they’re off!
making the most of zero wind at 10am
MOW crew
Gun Friday at 4 for a 100 mile offshore race from Marblehead up to the New Hampshire line and down to Cohasset and back. Conditions were far better than predicted for Friday through the night, with high winds, no rain, and warmth. Upwind leg was a killer overnight though, with not a lot of sleep from anyone. A few scattered pole maneuvers throughout, including a gybe and douse in the dark!
Then, we paid the price to the wind gods. Woke up for my 9am watch expecting to be downwind en route to Marblehead, and we're still upwind, about five miles from our mark and making minimal progress. Wind shut off, rain picked up, and we had a wet drift from about 7am until 1pm, when the sole other competitor left that hadn't bailed or finished (lucky spin boats made it before it died) called us to agree to retire, still three miles from that same mark. Motored (a long way!) back home for a four pm arrival and the greatest shower of my life.