Last night was the second Thursday night PHRF race for Dahlgren Yacht Club. After equipment issues, dying wind, and a smaller jib, Gemini managed to finish 2nd after a hard fought battle with Lagniappe. We finished the night, with me having to go up the mast to fix a halyard.

Earlier this week, I finally had Gemini’s bottom cleaned. The diver spent two and half hours scrubbing and scraping her hull, as well as cleaning the prop. I could tell, instantly, that a huge difference was made as soon as I put the boat in gear to leave the slip. Last week, we needed full engine power, and even had to help pull the boat out by her bow lines. This week, she effortlessly glided out of her berth at idle.

The wind last night as light, averaging 7 kts throughout the race, and dying down even more towards the end. The other two boats that started, Blessed (O’Day 25) and Lagniappe (Catalina 25), both have 150 genoas, and Gemini is, currently, only equipped with a 130. My crew and I knew that we were at a disadvantage in these light airs, but were excited for a night of racing regardless.

While motoring out to the starting line, I hoisted the main. About a foot and a half from full hoist, I was unable to get the main up any further. I tried to use the winch to help, but was unable to get the main all the way up. We then opened the clutch to let the halyard tension off and found, to our dismay, that the halyard had fallen off the sheave at the mast head and got jammed. This meant that I was going to the mast head at some point in the night to fix it. We did what we could to get enough luff tension on the main by utilizing the boom downhaul and reef cringle, Gemini is not equipped with a cunningham, yet, but were unable to achieve a fully efficient trim.

Already at a disadvantage, we didn’t do much to help ourselves by mistiming the start. With 1:30 left before start, we were too far from the line, with too small of a jib, and too little wind. We crossed the line roughly two minutes after the start, with both Blessed and Lagniappe well ahead of us. The first leg was downwind and Blessed ran away from all of us, rounding the mark well ahead of Lagniappe and Gemini. Lagniappe was ahead of us, but not gaining by much.

During the reach to the second mark, Lagniappe managed to put some more space between us. We did the best we could, averaging just under 3 kts speed. The last leg was a beat to the finish line, and an all out duel with Lagniappe. Lagniappe rounded the mark roughly two minutes before us, and they hardened up for a close haul port tack. We rounded the mark, sheeted in the main and genoa, and passed Lagniappe. After passing, we tacked, and Lagniappe tacked behind us.

On this tack, the advantage of a large genoa was evident. Gemini had both sails trimmed, as best as we could without the proper main luff tension, and Lagniappe, rapidly closed the gap. We tried to point higher, forcing them to go below our wind, but it was impossible, that 150 was just too much for us to overcome. Lagniappe passed us, and we tried to tack to get out of their bad air. It appeared as though they were on a runaway train for the finish line. At this point, the wind had really let up, and was even getting shifty.

As a last chance tactic, we decided to sail a slightly further distance, but into better air. The tactic paid off. We sailed a little past the finish lay line into stronger air, and managed to pass Lagniappe on the opposite tack. We crossed the finish line after 1 hour and 17 minutes of racing. Lagniappe still had to tack two more times to lay, and cross, the finish line. Even with owing them time, we still managed to correct ahead of Lagniappe with an official finish of second for the night.

Back at the dock, I had to go up the mast to fix the jammed halyard. The view of the marina was a beautiful sight at sunset from that high up. It was a quick fix, but it seems as though new halyards are in store for Gemini. Next week we are the Race Officer, so Gemini won’t be competing.

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During racing, I track the race using RaceQs, which allows me go back and recap the race in a 3D replay. Below is a link for both the 3D replay, as well as the official race results posted by Dahlgren Yacht Club.

• 3D Race Recap
• Offical Race Results