2004 PCYC Snow Flurries Regatta: Wet and Wild!!!

 

Well you missed it!  It was not the wettest ride of the 2004 race season.  The Trans Erie Race got the prize for that.  But the 2004 Snow Flurries Regatta definitely got the prize as the wildest ride since the Mills Race which was held in June!!!

 

We did not have a huge fleet, but we did have a fleet!!  The Big Red Boat, Running with Scissors, a Formula Forty Trimaran, was on the wall at PCYC early Friday afternoon, rafted off, Kevin Cody's condo cruiser.  It's tall wing mast could be seen all the way from my office, downtown Port Clinton. How exciting!  New LEM member, Bill Tilley brought his brand new F-28, Troika, and crew, game to learn more about the differences between racing multihulls versus racing monohulls. Of course , the F-28, Team Big Storm, with it's full compliment of crew, was there to teach them a few of these lessons. Even Harold Alber came out to play with his STL 30 Battlecat from the last race on Sunday. There were 41 boats tied up on the river by the time registration closed on Friday Night.

 

NOAA weather was predicting rain showers starting early in the AM, NW winds, 15-25 knots, with waves building to 5-7 feet by the afternoon.  The temperature was supposed to drop as the cold front blew through.  When we awoke Saturday Morning, the predicted rain had not yet started and the breeze was still blowing out of the southwest. Although the sky dark and overcast, it was still warm outside, too warm for layers or survival suits.....so maybe, if we got out on the course, and the races started on time, we might get in a race or two before the shit hit the fan.

 

The Race Committee shot off the one hour gun at 9:00AM.   We were off the dock and cleared Port Clinton pierhead by 9:10AM.   When we turned Big Storm into the wind to hoist the main, it was only blowing SSW 5-10 knots.  We still had flat water near shore.  As we sailed offshore though, the breeze was building and the waves were capping as a big front began to move in. It looked very dark and ominous.  As we approached the starting area, the breeze began to shift right and rapidly built to WNW 15-20 knots.  By 9:50AM, it was blowing 25-30 knots and the Race Committee was unable to set the anchor, despite the 110 feet of anchor chain.

 

On board, Big Storm, we battened down the jib, got the storm jib ready on deck, and we put a single reef in the main.  And then we waited, and waited, for the show to begin.  Meanwhile, on board, Troika, one of Bill's crew became sick, and he sailed back into Port Clinton.  We weren't feeling that keen ourselves and our resolve was beginning to dissolve as the RC continued to drag anchor at 11:30am. The Big Red Boat, came out to play, but they were sailing around on their jib alone.  Unbeknownst to us, they were having engine problems and then, when part  their boat fell off and drifted into the shallows, one of their crew took it upon himself to jump overboard, against the wishes of his skipper, sans life jacket to rescue the part.  Eventually, he had to be rescued by a support boat.

 

Meanwhile, PRO, Doug Young was making a valiant effort to get a race off in very difficult conditions.  He eventually moved the RC boat to a different anchorage.  They bent a huge Danforth anchor in their attempt.  When the RC finally did get the anchor to set at 12 noon, all the racing marks had to be reset.  By then, our skipper had had enough.  He was cold and miserable and he made it very clear that he was not having fun!  We were just about to bail, and here came Bill Tilley and his stalwart crew, Mark Hill, on the  F-28R, double-handing and double reefed!  Running with Scissors was still sailing around on their jib....we couldn't quit now!

 

Race One:  The Multihulls had the last start at12:45PM.  When we decided that we would use our jib after all, we were already into our 5 minute sequence and it took forever to get all those bungees off, while trying to hang on to the bow in the huge seas. Consequently, we were late turning back for the start line, and very late for the start.  How late were we Kathy?  But, our competition, Troika started behind us.  They would have their hands full! Kevin Cody,  skipper/owner on Running with Scissors, opted not to race.  Kevin told us later that he didn't have any of the other owners on board, nor enough of his regular crew to sail the big red boat in these extreme conditions.  He looked around at his crew before the race and thought, "who can I trust on the mainsheet?"  The past owners told Kevin that they never reefed the big red boat, but they also flipped it once.  HMMM!

 

The Race Committee had set a 8.28 nm windward-leeward course, twice around for the first race.  By the time we reached the first windward mark, the breeze had diminished somewhat, maybe 18-22kts, so we launched the chute and shook the reef out of the main for the downwind leg.  Team Troika hung in tough but they decided that they weren't going to launch a chute in those conditions, with just two crew on board.  But, the screecher sure came in handy!!!

 

We rounded the left hand mark at the gate, and carried out on port tack to find we were getting lifted around the mark.  The wind was backing left.  So we took a hitch left and we got lifted again! The Lord may giveth, but he also taketh away and we got two knocks for the final approach to the second windward mark.  Our second chute launch wasn't so great either, as the chute got an hour glass and we had to bring it back down to get out the twist.   Big Storm crossed the line well ahead of the F-28R at 2:21: 37PM.  After a hard fought fight, Team Troika finished second at 2:30:54PM.  Meanwhile, the sun had come out, the breeze had let up a bit,  and everything was sweetness and light!

 

Race Two, the RC set another windward-leeward course, 5nm, twice around for the second race at 3PM.  It was another match race between the Big Storm and Troika.  Our skipper, Jim Frederick, had timed the line so that he would be at the RC end of the line at the start, but when Jim saw Troika charging for the line, he turned back a bit early, to cut him off at the pass.  Consequently, we arrived at the RC end way too early.  We sat there luffing a bit, then reached down the line for the perfect start, except that Bill Tilley had a much better start 3 boat lengths to weather.   

 

Bill Tilley and Team Troika covered us at every turn and gassed us at every opportunity!!! We were on their sterns at the first mark rounding.  They launched their chute and we followed suit!  They gained on us at first, as our crew, Kim struggled with the launch.  But they overstood on the jibe, and we were spot-on!  We rounded the left -hand mark at the gate ahead and we were well ahead going into the second windward mark, and that was a good thing too. Again, Kim struggled to get the chute up to the top of the mast and then it suddenly let go and left Kim sprawling on the cockpit floor.  The head of the chute cascaded into the water and dragged full length under the boat which made it a perfect drogue.

 

Jim continued sailing downwind while Kim and I hauled the chute on board.  We found the head intact  

It was the shackle that had let go, but now it was at the top of the mast. I sorted out the sail on the trampoline and we relaunched with a second halyard, to find the lazy sheet wrapped around  the clew.  I  threw the sheet overboard and retrieved it on the other side...that was a quick fix., and we were sailing again and still ahead.

 

We jibed for the gait and soon found ourselves power reaching into the next mark at 15.9 knots.  Another shift? We were just settling in for a fun ride when the tack blew out and we were flying a beautiful blue flag from the top of the mast on down.  Kim and Lisa were put to the task of getting the chute down on deck and hauling in the entire tape and tack line which were acting as a drogue.  We got it all on board in time for the leeward mark rounding, but Lisa had to hang onto the chute on the low side while we came up to weather and trimmed in. Hang on Lisa!  Despite all our trials and tribulations, we kept our lead, but Troika managed to close up the distance.  Big Storm finished at 4:47:57PM.  Troika finished second at 4:50:58. After 8 hours on the water, finally, it was Miller Time!

PCYC served up a scrumptious  traditional BBQ dinner to the ravenous racers, which was followed by many cocktails and entertainment in the bar. 

 

Race 3: Sunday Morning, it was one of those sunny, pretty days,  but very cold.  Having learned his lesson from the day before, our skipper, Jim Frederick,  opted to wear his survival suit. The rest of us dressed in layers, which we would soon be peeling off.  We had a nice offshore breeze, SW 5-10kts.  But, NOAA was predicting 10-20 knots.  It was bound to build as the day went on. 

The RC set another windward-leeward course, 6.8nm, twice around for the third race.  We tried the line before the JAM start sequence and found the line to be pretty square. But when it was time for the Multihull start at 10:30am, the port end had become quite port favored, making it a close call to cross on starboard.  Harold Alber had brought his STL 30, Battlecat, out to play for the final race and he was headed for the leeward end and we followed him, but then we broke it off and did a donut.  At 1 minute to go, we did headed for the RC end and ran the line on starboard, barely clearing the pin end of the line at the start with the Spinnaker fleet baring down on us and sailing back through the line, which was open.

 

Troika was hot on our heels, but they weren't able to make it and had to bail out, tacking around and going off on port. Running with Scissors started midline and Battlecat started on port tack, at the RC end.  We tacked to weather of the first string of spinnaker boats, while Troika ran below us aft and abeam.  Big Red ran all the way to the starboard layline, catching a big header at the end, before they tacked for the mark.  Running with Scissors  was first around  the windward mark and they launched their "storm chute".   Big Storm was next around.  With our stock chute destroyed, we decided to try our brand new, very flat, masthead chute.  As predicted, it did not perform well on the windward-leeward course and soon Team Troika  and Team Battlecat were gaining on us and threatening to overrun us.  We jibed early, while Troika and Battlecat went further right.  Meanwhile, Running with Scissors had doused their hanky sized chute and were headed back up wind. 

 

At the leeward gate, Troika crossed us barely ahead.  They went left and we went right into the shore.  Running with Scissors went up the middle.  Battlecat followed Troika offshore.  We tacked below on a line below the start/finish line and caught a nice lift most of the way across.  Troika and Battlecat sailed port tack all the way to the starboard layline. We were looking really good until we caught the knock on port tack and Troika got the lift. But we managed to tack just in front of them and rounded the windward mark ahead.  But when we go to launch the chute, the shackle and chute material get pinned under the side stay, next to the mast. I had to run forward to free it, so we had a delayed launch.  How did this happen?

 

Meanwhile. we got rolled by Troika, with their full compliment of crew on board, had a perfect spinnaker launch.  We tried to stave off the attack, by coming up to weather, but it is not a coordinated effort, and we got rolled anyways.  We did our best to cover them from behind, but they really took off after that.  After the jibe, we sailed into a hole and floundered around a bit, until we dropped the jib and Jim heated it up a bit and we were cooking again. 

 

Meanwhile Battlecat,  with their big masthead chute, was sailing a much deeper and more direct course toward the leeward gait, but not a fast course...we kept an eye on them anyways!!!

 

Running with Scissors was first across the line at 11:48:50AM.   

 

Troika went left out of the gate and we went right.  We found more breeze and a lift into the finish line on our final tack to the finish. Big Storm was second across the line at 11:57:42AM.  Troika crossed third at 12:00:46 and Battlecat crossed last. In the end, it was Big Storm, that won the race with a corrected time of 1:23:58.  Troika corrected out second at 1:27:22.  Running with Scissors corrected out third at 1:37:32. 

 

We tacked for home as the breeze filled in with the 10-20 knot breeze NOAA had predicted, right on cue.  I broke out the bottle of champagne for the fast ride home, but juggling champagne glasses at every tack became the real challenge as beat for shore. 

 

PCYC had a hot lunch waiting for us upon our return.  A pitcher of Bloody Mary's was the order for the day. 

 

Shortly after lunch, Port Clinton Yacht Club awarded their distinctive Snowflurries Flags and gleaming Trophy Mugs three deep in every class.  Big Storm was the winner of the day with three bullets for the series.  Bill and Linda Tilley and Team Troika won their very first flag on their new Corsair boat with three second place finishes. Team Running with Scissors  was awarded a flag as well.