Friday Slalom Series Race at St. Francis Yacht Club - Day 1
by Steve Bodner 21 May 2018 11:15 PDT
18 May 2018
Friday Slalom Series Race - Day 1 © Maxim Panchenko
To say it was windy would be an understatement. It blew the dogs off their chains on Friday evening for the first St. Francis Yacht Club Friday Slalom Series Race.
12 sailors braved the conditions rigging up anywhere between a 5.8 and 8.6 for the building ebb and 20-35k of breeze.
This year, we are trying out a new course with just one mark set 1/2 way down between Crissy Field and the St.FYC. The fleet starts on port tack with a start just off the beach and immediately heads out to a mark set by the shipping channel. A quick gybe takes them back to the A buoy set off St.FYC, then back to mark one and finally a screaming reach to the finish by B buoy and the club.
Race one caught a few of the fleet off guard with only four finishers. I remind myself of the most basic rules- make it to the start and finish line. The rest is arbitrary.
Race two. The breeze was filled in solidly to the beach and Soheil, Jean and Nick quickly charged to a 1-2-3- finish making it look easy.
Race three is an all out fight to the finish. I'm stupidly overpowered and in the leeward back strap to ease the fin pressure on the reach. I make a few conservative gybes and racers go down around me like dominoes. The last mark sees a pinwheel of four racers stacked up. I'm in the lead going into finish. I cant turn my head to see where the fleet is but know they are below me. One piece of chop send the nose of my board flying and I ease up. In that slit second, I go from first to third with Nick and Soheil passing me to leeward and grabbing the first two spots. Never give up, even an inch.
Race four. Finally back in the game. rounding the first mark in the pack, I pushed a bit too hard on the second mark rounding and went for a swim. Water starting a 7.6 in breaking waves and 30k is not as easy as I remember.
Vincent shows a solid performance with a third behind Soheil and Jean.
Race five. Final race of the night. Its stupid windy with the gusts over 30k and the building ebb makes voodoo chop the size of small cars around the course. In addition, the big boat fleet is using mark A as their starting mark to head across the bay.
Stay out of trouble, I remind myself. I push as hard as I can but Jean and Soheil walk away with smaller gear and are able to get to 5th gear and really send it. We approach mark A in all all out clusterfu%* of big ebb, big boats and little time for decisions. I send it below one of the big boats while Jean heads above. I come out just in front of him as we grind back up to mark one. The big boats are keeping the same line as us but are just another obstacle to get around. We all make it around a buoy but Jean is really able to send it on his tiny bump and jump gear and get the final bullet of the night.
All in all, more fun than I remember but a lot of work just to stay upright and moving fast. Thanks to all those who joined and thanks to the volunteers who helped make it happen.
If you're interested in racing, our next Friday night race is Friday June 1st. New racers are always welcome and volunteers appreciated.
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