Pacific Coast Championships - Race No. 2 on Saturday, June 8, 2002
As with the first race, the south side of the course was favored both upwind and down. Boats that started at the pin end were first to reach the favored side that was inhabited by a huge fleet of boats fishing. Why the south side? Our theory was that the current was relatively neutral with the early ebb coming out of the south bay mixing with the dying flood from the gate. We thought that’s why the fishing fleet was there, working the transition current. Picking the time to tack was critical so as to get a clear lane through the fishing fleet. After passing close to one particular fishing boat we heard a comment I wish I had a gun. Obviously, the rag-heads were not welcome. Some of the craftier skippers were able to use the fishing boats as picks to get themselves a clear lane. When the left side is favored it always makes for an interesting upwind mark rounding with so many port tack approaches. Thankfully, the fleet came through it unscathed. A control mark would have been a perfect solution. Downwind, the leaders were protecting their inside position on the starboard gate so they could get to the favored left side upwind. In addition to the usual suspects at the front of the fleet, boats we noticed that had their upwind speed dialed in were Whisper, Jose Cuervo, Irrational Again and Advantage 3. Gary Kneeland Orion