Back

The Hardway Race from Jib & Tonic's perspective

COASTWISE SPINNAKER COURSE: From the start line off Santa Barbara, leave the fixed mark H and Anacapa Island to port, leave the R2 Ventura entrance buoy to starboard, and finish in the Ventura Harbor entrance channel. The handicap length is 47 nm.
 
A day on Jib & Tonic (while the sun never shone, the wind did not disappoint):
 
Light breeze & up coast current to start, first boat to round H mark. Struggled in 5-6 knots to get the boat over 4 knots, eventually shed the “K” word and sailed on. We were led to the island once Buena Vista (Olsen 40) overtook us. On the backside (South) the lead boats sailed into a significant hole. We attempted to sail around it, while BV stripped their kite and raised their #1 jib, staying close to the island they sailed away while we struggled to reach the windline outside. Once we cleared the East end of Anacapa we maintained 7+ knots in 12-19 knots of wind with a reefed main and the #3. The forecasted wind of mid 20s did not materialize and once it dropped below 14 steadily we shook the reef to maintain speed. Finishing this race before sunset has been difficult in the past, this year we finished shortly after 6PM and enjoyed “hot” food and exchanging sea stories of past races.