Express 27 National Championship overall + Video
by Erik Simonson, Pressure-Drop.US on 2 Sep 2014
2014 Express 27 National Championship - Motorcycle Irene Erik Simonson/ pressure-drop.us
http://www.pressure-drop.us
The Express 27 National Championship took place at San Francisco Yacht Club - August 28-31, 2014. With wind gusts into the mid-30s, a hefty 2.7 knot flood and a tight reach across the Bay from Harding Rock , past Alcatraz, and down to Blossom Rock, the crew of Motorcycle Irene decided to 'Send It' anyways.
We rounded the Harding in third and noticed the two boats in front were fighting each other and saw a passing lane and decided it was a great opportunity! Said Will Paxton M.I.s skipper 'We lit it up sent it! Either it was going to work or it wasn't.' Daniel Thielman and crew on the charteredShenanigans (Kuai for the regatta) was trailing Brendan Busch's Get Happy on the leg and both set kites a bit later, but by then, the damage was done...
As it turned out, Motorcyle Irene did manage to carry the whole way, gybed the kite at Blossom and rode it all the way to eight. A white knuckle romp even with just white sails und those conditions. In the aftermath, several other boats attempted to carry their kites, some managed to, and for others, it was as if Aoleus himself declared 'The F&%$ you will!'
Despite the spinouts and calamities 'Saturday's long distance race was well received' indicated PRO Robbie Dean 'The crews were all super stoked to have some variety in the program and the beat up the south side of Angel Island, and the reaches across the Bay giving them a good test of skills and plenty of bar banter afterwards!'
