Thank you race committee!!
I think this was a pretty busy race to monitor!
I felt Nightmare was well prepared and looked foreword to the race.
We had a decent start, footing off a bit for speed.
I am susceptible to seasickness and use scopolamine the effectively.
The washing machine however was no joke! I got hit anyway.
The first night being the worst, and next day only a little better.
Sail plan was a main with three reefs and a #3. Storm jib ready.
Working with the 1& 2 reefs kept us going.
The first a/p drive gave up early the second evening, and swapped in a backup.
Nearing the turn around point, the last degree seemed to take forever!
In my seasick addled brain I thought 126-20 to be the mark.
100 miles later the thought crept in, was I wrong?
Dug out the SI, sure enough, I messed up. Were we 25 or even 50 miles away I might have gone back, but at 100, nope.
As the point of sail turned more reachy, I began to eat and drink more and feel a bit better.
During the third night, the second a/p drive dis-assembled itself and as I came on deck a gully washer swept half its guts overboard. The little st 2000 backup just doesn't have te power or speed for these conditions but can give me a break for a nap.
Hand steering that last night was pretty surreal. Following the stars and going by feel.
Ultimately coming back too far north again I crossed into the Gulf of the Farallones at Noonday Rock.
I could hear the CG end of the Sea Wisdom conversation but too far away to get there before the CG.
The wind died out at Duxbury Reef and since I was already disqualified from the race, had no problem starting the engine to get us to Point Bonita.
I called in to the R/C announcing my approach to the finish and retirement from the race.
Nightmare fared well, skipper fairly well. A few more a/p spares and we'll be ready to go!
Last edited by Daydreamer; 07-07-2019 at 11:44 AM.
Reason: Spelling
All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds, wake in the day to find that it is vanity; but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they act their dream with open eyes, to make it possible.
T.E. Lawrence