Racing Sailboats
02 November 2013
• San Carlos
by Hot, but nice, bit light on the wind
This was my first experience racing. I have to say I did not really care for it. It wasn't just that we withdrew on the first day halfway through the race and then came in last by a wide margin on the second day, it's just the principle of it. Really. Having to sail in conditions that would be more appropriate for motor-sailing or just motoring did not make sense to me. I appreciate that racing forces one to improve one's raw sailing skills, but that wasn't enough to make it ideally enjoyable during a lot of the race when we were not sailing that fast, or at all. There's more that doesn't work for me about the racing. In racing, it is expected to power the rig as much as possible to get the most speed. I think like a cruiser, and when it comes to my cruising, I like to use as much power from the engine as it is necessary to get my boat to it's best speed for the conditions along with the sails. I'm inclined to de-power the rig and de-stress the boat, and myself, in conditions that warrant it. Finally, like day sailing, racing has no actual destination except for the place where you started at the beginning. The experience of pulling a secure anchor, leaving harbor, heading out to sea, and making ones way to another destination, is not captured by the circular course I experienced this past weekend in San Carlos. But, I met a new sailing buddy, Gary, and we enjoyed our time together trying to race around the huge bay South of San Carlos, trying to figure out where the other boats went, and just enjoying the sailing in the Sea of Cortez. Next time, however, I might forgo the race and just do the cruise.
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