Blossom Time Recap

After a truly awesome day of sailing yesterday we were unfortunately left with not much left in the bank wind wise today. Everyone was hoping the breeze would build but the best we saw might have been 3 or 4 knots out of the West. The RC did run one race from SBDC and the fleet struggled to finish inside of the 90 minute window. The breeze was 90 degrees to the startline which causes all kinds of mess when picking an approach. Someone could approach on starboard from below the committee boat and still force everyone up above the pin. I tried to find a hole right at the pin favoured end and was forced to spin around to remain clear of Wicked. We still started and had the kite flying right on the startline. We sailed above the pack with good speed but then ran into the dilemma of the day. Do we try to sail above the Rocket 22 and have then surely luff us all the way to the no wind West shore, or do we try to go below them and sail really deep to the better breeze we can see just off our left. Either decision was a crappy one but we held our course and tried to work towards the better breeze to the East. The Andrews 28 and Ghost Rider sailed above us from behind and were luffed as expected to the moon by the Rocket. We were stuck sailing against a 1/2 knot current with very little boat speed going nowhere fast. By the time we got to the B mark rounding the rest of the fleet was converging within a few boat lengths ahead and we decided to try something a little different. Thinking that the only breeze to be found was going to be on the right we kept the kite up and gybe around the mark sailing with great speed but a much lower angle into better pressure. Wouldn't you know it thought, the gamble failed when the middle of the lake found stronger winds while the right side faded and left us underwhelmed. We fought our way around the final mark and finished in the much better wind found now in the centre of the lake. It was the new Melges 24 Full Moon that showed the importance of clear air especially in very light conditions. They started all alone at the committee boat and poked their nose into the only breeze around. They quickly found themselves a half leg ahead of the fleet and sailing fast, right up until they hit dead air on the way to D. It was, as a good friend often say, a he who day. Congratulations to Gerard and crew on Warlock for claiming this years Blossom Time Regatta after claiming all bullets in yesterday's fresh conditions.