ted_reshetiloff
Contributing Partner
Thats what we had Saturday in the Baltimore harbor Leukemia cup. Stated out 18-20 from SSE. We port tacked the fleet and had a great start led to the first mark uphill in 18-20 true. Double reefed main and about 130% of the genny. 9 people on the rail. Rounded the first mark and opted not to set the .6oz assym. Several S2's and a few pearson flyers did and passed us. A corbin 40 we were scratch with (phrf120) edged up closer so we set the a-sail. New speed record for Escape Plan 11.9kts. She got real squirrely and was rolling rail to rail. At one point the spin sheet came around the end of the boom and was no longer leading under the boom. It was about that point when we broached. Lower spreaders about 2' from being in the water, rudder out. The kite flogged then it some how popped the snap shackle for the sheet loose, amazing luck. At that point we rolled out the jib and had a flawless douse. We took back off at 9.5-10.5 for another 2 downwind legs. On that third leg a shock 35 was dismasted and several other boats lost control of their kites. We rounded the light house and started a 2 mile beat to be followed by a run up the Patapsco river into Baltimore. On that leg the breeze in about 5 minutes went from 20 to 40kts true. At that point 1/2 of our division dropped out. We rolled up most of the genny to storm sail size and charged on for the most epic sailing I have ever done on Escape Plan. Second only to offshore experiences. The helm was balanced and my main trimmer was awesome as we leaped off 6' seas. The bow would get tossed every so often and we would have to ease main foot for speed then wind back up to point mode but we were able to make 6.5-6.8 uphill. Rounded that mark then chased the corbin 40 the rest of the way to the finish for 2nd place. The corbin was in her element at 29K lbs displacement verses our 15K. Breeze held high 30s for the rest of the race. Some other folks say they saw 45Kts. Highest we saw was 42, but steady 35-38.
The party was of course a tremendous hit with my crew and were all feeling it sunday morning but still made the start for the race back. There we lined up against the corbin boat for boat in 8-12 true. Much more like Escape Plan's breeze. We jockeyed for the start ultimately just to leeward on starboard but accelerated out from under her bow. First leg was 2/3 mile beat. She tacked to port we covered and rolled up over her. She took us up but at the last minute we got a big lift and rolled her the rest of the way. Bore off to the layline to round first. Set the A sail and never looked back. We had a long reach in 8-10 followed by a short beat. Nearing the turn mark we had made some decent gains on the A fleet who started 5 min ahead. On the short beat it got light and shifty and Escape Plan found her lane to the mark ahead of a 42' X-Yacht who rates something like 54! We bore off set the kite quickly gybed and led the x-yacht for another 6 miles to the finish. She never caught us and Escape Plan took the gun! Absolutely epic weekend and total blast.
The party was of course a tremendous hit with my crew and were all feeling it sunday morning but still made the start for the race back. There we lined up against the corbin boat for boat in 8-12 true. Much more like Escape Plan's breeze. We jockeyed for the start ultimately just to leeward on starboard but accelerated out from under her bow. First leg was 2/3 mile beat. She tacked to port we covered and rolled up over her. She took us up but at the last minute we got a big lift and rolled her the rest of the way. Bore off to the layline to round first. Set the A sail and never looked back. We had a long reach in 8-10 followed by a short beat. Nearing the turn mark we had made some decent gains on the A fleet who started 5 min ahead. On the short beat it got light and shifty and Escape Plan found her lane to the mark ahead of a 42' X-Yacht who rates something like 54! We bore off set the kite quickly gybed and led the x-yacht for another 6 miles to the finish. She never caught us and Escape Plan took the gun! Absolutely epic weekend and total blast.
