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Seconds from Greatness
These are my observations; the first is most obvious of not having the correct time to our start. We were off for sure but not by the reported minutes, maybe by 20 seconds or so. Soon after the start we tacked east and with slightly cracked sheets were able pull ahead of most boats in our class. As the afternoon progressed, we soon lost to the boats that were just to leeward, and it was more than just bad helmsmanship and mind for the record. Unbeknownst to us even Epic of all boats sailed through our lee. Going to weather in light air is not what Epic does, something else was taking effect. From Epic's perspective all of the boats to the north just died and everyone just south of our position kept going. Secondly, on Saturday late afternoon after the new breeze filled in from the west we were able to climb over all the boats that slid through our lee. The one tactical decision that I'm not able to quantify was our decision to fly the 3A and slide east closer to our known competition. Did it help? My gut feeling is it did but I'm just not able to quantify it. With the eastern sky brightening on Sunday morning we discovered that we were slightly in from of Irish (Mumm 36) and just behind Blue (Mumm 36). Over the morning we ground down Blue to where we were bow out heading northwesterly. We tacked and passed their stern by 100 yards. It was their continuation out into the lake that allowed them to re-extend their lead to what seemed over 1 mile. Even Irish got outside of us and passed us, all to our dismay. The pressure was out in the lake and we needed to get there! Just how… over the next few hours of sailing just east of north we dinked out with every opportunity to once again get in front of Irish and lay just inside, east and slightly behind Blue. In insight that was truly some remarkable sailing to once again grind down Blue's 1 mile lead to just over 200 yards! We laid their for about 30 minutes and discovered that the stronger breeze, no mattered how close or far was just stronger out in the lake. Again we tacked taking Blue's transom by 200 yards and headed west out into the lake. With about one mile westing we tacked and headed north with the fleet. Call it luck or providence for Blue, but the breeze started to lift them out into the lake and away from the ever closer Big Sable Point. Near the end of the day on Sunday, Blue was sitting just 100 yards to leeward and dead even! Slowly the new predicted Southwesterly began to fill. In those conditions Bounder knows no equal. First the 3A, then the AP Asymmetrical reacher to finally the runner with staysail. With the breeze building to 25 kts. Bounder surfed to the Manitou Passage buoy. With only a .5 oz runner, the sail was at its limit. The ever so slight turn to pass into the Manitou Passage would surely blow the sail and we still had a 56 mile run to Gray's Reef. A heated discussion with Eric about could the sail take the strain and our need to sail conservatively was not pleasant but had to happen. No sooner did we change down to the heavier reacher did we wipeout! No way could the runner have survived that! But off we went in the company of much bigger and faster boats in the fleet. Blue called over 45 minutes behind us. Bounder did that to a faster competitor on only 6 hours of heavy running! Bounder was on fire and we had to keep the ship together to really see if we deserved our current position. Crossing the 45th parallel we made our safety radio check in. We were in great company and we only observed 2 other boats in our class, they were behind us, but where were the other 22 boats in our class? Doubts and paranoia can set in especially w/ only 3 hours of sleep well into the race. Bounder is flying, seas are the biggest I've seen in Lake Michigan and the early morning light makes the seas and sky eerie gray. Spray flying, 10 foot or larger seas Bounder is in rhythm. As the morning progresses rain squalls filled in from the southwest with a steady 23 kts. and gust to over 28 kts. With only an Asymmetrical reacher pulled back we cannot sail as deep as needed and we need to jibe. The boat is getting hairy and there is indecision within the crew. A decision is made to just get the damn thing down! Sail conservatively we need to keep this game going, to win! Kite down, jib up and jibe with the runner going up once again. Only 13 mile to Gray's Reef running in 26-28 kts. Please god keep the runner together, we need this damn thing! As we enter Gray's Passage we are behind Hot Ticket a J120, and Collaboration 2 a Beneteau 40.7, and just in front of Crazy Horse an old Frers 50 from the early 80's. Remarkable we have passed Magic the Sydney 41 that we have sailed with since early Saturday morning, cool very cool. At 9 AM Monday morning, we turn east into the Straits of Mackinac. Only 25 miles to go to finish. Looking out in front we can only see what appears to be larger and faster boats and absolutely nothing behind, once again, cool very cool. Sailing the final miles into Mackinac Island we jib reach until the winds free us as we set the 3A, then the runner as we sail under the Mackinac Bridge. For once the wind gods give us a steady but dying breeze into the finish. Pulling into the harbor Bounder and her crew can proudly say that she has sailed a race to remember. First in Section 4, 3rd over-all in secondary IRC scoring. 2nd over-all by only 4 seconds in fleet. Only 4 Seconds from greatness… 4 long seconds that will haunt this crew for sometime. For my long standing friendships and crew and to the new members of the team you have heard me say, "to be competitive you have to play the game". To win our section in the Chicago Mac Race is carrying the game to a higher level and to win or almost win overall takes skill, luck and above all balls! Team Bounder displayed all three and that is more, much more than all other boats in the event except the Sydney 38 Eagle can say. Go Bounder! Bounder Crew David Hudgel,
Owner 08/08/06 |
