May 17 2009
2009 Seattle NOOD
Well the time came to see if project PAY would pay off at the Seattle NOODs. Last year I was dead last in the working sails boats at the NOOD never placing better than 5th in a 10 boat fleet over 10 races despite the fact that I flew spinnaker all three days. In 2009 due to very light and shifty winds we only got 4 starts and my over the line results were 8,4,4,4 in a 15 boat fleet. However, this year I didn’t fly the spinnaker and the folks at the NOOD scored the 5 working sails boats separately from the 10 spinnaker boats, so in my class I finised 1,1,1,1, and came home the 2009 first overall winner for the SJ21 Working Sails class. I guess it pays to PAY!
So I would have to say project PAY has payed off. Of course having Christian Lamp as crew also played a big role in Limpets success. Scouts inexplicable decision to go outside (away from the meadow point hurricane) into the current on the second race, and BoBs decision not to race on Sunday also helped the cause. But I am going to throw modesty out the window for a second and just say that for this weekend I sailed FAST. Even without a working sails group I would have finished 5th overall out of 15 boats, that is amazing compared to last year. Charmed Juan the perennial holder of the Fleet #1 Spinnaker overall championship never crossed the line before me. I kicked ass and I really, really liked it. I know it wont always be like this, but considering the last time I sailed Limpet was to 24th (out of 25 boats) at Western Nationals in Coos Bay last year, it was amazing to win my first major Regatta Title. I may be required to move up to the Spinnaker class with the big boys next year, but for now I am savoring a victory for a change.
Of course some work remains… Though I came close on the last race I still have yet to beat Chris Popich across the line in a single race over 3 years.