When you hear the words "sail racing" many people picture a turtle race, slowly bobbing boats trying to inch ahead of the competition. After competing in several sail races I can assure you that they can be fast and exciting. This weekend was no exception.
The winds were light this past weekend so it wasn't a full speed race. The light winds did, however, keep all of the boats close together and jockeying for position and all converging on the finish at the same time.
Sailboats cant sail into the wind. If the wind is blowing straight from your destination, you have to sail to one side or another of the headwind in order to go towards it. Tacking (zig-zagging) to either side of your destination is how this is achieved.
During the Saturday race, four boats converged at the finish line at the same time, including us. Two of the boats were on one tack and the other two on the opposite tack, which meant a collision course. The finish line in a sail race is between a committee boat ( basically a boat at anchor) and a floating round red ball. The gate, or opening is usually fifty feet or so, which sounds large until you consider that most of the boats converging were thirty feet long.
Our boat and a thirty footer were on a starboard tack ( leaning to the left) and neck and neck at the line when the thirty footer lost the wind and control and had to tack (turn) to the right. He turned into the path of another thirty footer coming in fast. They collided; The bow sprit of the turning boat hit the stern of the passing boat with an awful crunch. The anchor of the turning boat was lodged in the aft castle of the other boat, stopping both at the finish line.
Our boat was still making way towards the finish, barely holding speed, with the wind changing position towards our faces. Our sails started luffing but I thought we had enough momentum to carry us through when I saw a large thirty four footer coming charging in from our left side on a port tack (leaning right). He was going so fast with good wind over his port side that he could never turn away from us and miss us without blowing his chance of passing through the finish line.
He wasnt going to turn. I choose discretion over valor and turned my boat to the right to avoid a collision and let him pass before quickly turning back and passing the finish line.
I don't know where we placed in the race that day, and since I don't race to win, just to learn, I don't really care. What I do know, is that my boat and my family are much more important to me that bragging rights in the club house.
Very neat post today. Thanks for sharing
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