Report on my first regatta in my Core Sound "First Attempt"

[sitearch]

Hi Graham and all, This last weekend I did participated in my first regatta--the Homer Alaska Land's End Regatta 2013. I loved it even though I really didn't know what I was doing. But you have to start somewhere.

 

My Core Sound #199 "First Attempt" was magnificient. Thanks to Graham's great hull design. Many of you will remember me because my boat is the Mystery Craft as Graham called her a few years ago. He calls her that because I modified the boat quite a bit by adding a cuddy (similar to Dawn Patrol and Graham's EC), I sugar scooped the transom and lately I have begun to sail her with only the main sail stepped in the middle position and with a small self tacking balanced boom jib.

 

You might be interested in knowing that the race officials assigned me a PHRF of 100 and I had to laugh because they knew of Graham's reputation with the Core Sound and his list of  wins in  just about every race he has entered and they were terrified that I was going to dominate in the competition like he does. In fact one of the club officials is just finishing his build of one of Graham's Spindrift designs. I just had to smile not only because I am not 1 tenth the sailor Graham is but also because I was the smallest boat in the regatta. 

My boat performed so very well. According to my GPS I had burst of 6 knots with the main in the middle step (see photo 401). It was a blast. When I put up the small self tacking balanced boom jib I was really pegging 7 knots consistently and to my inexperienced surprise it was much easier to sail to point windward. The conditions of the day were really very nice with the exception of the fog that set in just about 30 minutes before the race started. We had winds of 15 knots with seas of 3 feet and a fast current running against us of about 4 knots.

 Now as for the race, well due to my inexperience we got disoriented as the fog engulfed us and we temporarily lost our way but we hung in there and finished the race anyway and had a great time.  Thanks to Graham again for a great, fast  hull design. Everyone was impressed with my boat and very complimentary to me for having built her. Happy sailing

 Bob ClaytonFirst AttemptCore Sound #199

 Attached Photos: 394-- fog as it set in about 30 minutes before the start of the race--we were all motoring around waiting for the start, 401--a nice close haul going over the start line (that is me in the red PFD), 406-- on a very fast and delightful reach of around 7 knots with the self tacking balanced boom jib , 404 just a quick shot of some of the big boys around my vessel--we are mighty small next to them.   

[MisterMoon]

Harsh rating, dude! They weren't very nice when it came to allocation your handicap. 100 is Viper 640 territory. Tell them 250-280 is more like it!

[Dnjost]

I agree. 100 assumes carbon spars and laminate sails.  Beg for a a change!