Rolex Big Boat Series - Good day for Double Trouble

by Paul Cayard on 14 Sep 2014 Friday was a very good day for us on Double Trouble at the 2014 Rolex Big Boat Series.

In the first race we were on the Fort Mason race course with about 10 knots of wind. We were over the start line early and had to go back and restart putting us last in the 13 boat fleet. The current was 'flooding' (coming in the bay) and our first mark was up toward the Golden Gate bridge. The whole fleet was tacking back and forth in a very narrow band, about 100 yards wide, along the shore, to stay out of the worst of the adverse current. This makes it very difficult to pass because there is a lot disturbance of the wind for boat that are downwind of the pack.

Andy Costello steering, Nick Catley the jib sheets, James Clappier calling the wind and me on the main sheet, all did a great job of working the shoreline and getting 'out of phase' with the boats ahead of us. After about 30 tacks on the two windward legs and smooth sailing downwind in the favorable current, we finished second! Nice Comeback!

For the second race we moved out to the Alcatraz race course. The wind built to 15 knots by this time. The current was still flooding hard out there in the middle of the bay but there was no shoreline to close enough for the length of the first leg. This spread the fleet out a lot more than the first race. We had a good start nearly the left end of the line and were in the lead the entire race. It is much easier when you do it that way!

We are all pretty tired after a day like that. These small boats are very physical especially in the conditions on SF Bay.

Today's 2,1 scores put us in first place overall, one point ahead of 'Bottle Rocket'. Two more races Saturday and one Sunday.

For complete results go to Rolex Big Boat Series