[Previous entry: "Impressive ablution facilities"] [Next entry: "The Cockpit, eDoc. Control central"]

04/25/2011: "10 seconds from the finish line of a 26 mile race."

This is how a handicap should work! eDoc started 63 minutes behind the second last boat. We could not see those ahead of us when we crossed the startline. It took until the last few seconds to catch the frontrunner. They tacked and covered, we tacked on each shift. The last tack was critical to reach the leeward end of the line. We decided to drive under the corsair as our 70ft rig was not going to be too much affected by the sails and we could go faster. It came down to the last second, eDoc's crew lying on the windward bow to give the boat drive and pointing ability. The Corsair was similarly seriously crewed. eDoc, somehow, crossed a boatlength ahead, exhausted but elated. The scurvy kid crew ecstatic. Club races can be great fun! Although we won, the handicapper was on the Corsair that we pipped at the line so we donated the Rum their great effort.