Macgregor 26X Outsails a Catalina 27..
Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 8:21 pm
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Sunday around noon the NOAA weather forecast was calling for 25-30mph south winds on Lake Erie.
NOAA forecast was calling for Gale warning to begin at 4PM with Gusts over 50 MPH. The Tail end of IKE still going
With High winds, and no crew, I didnt want to hoist the mainsail..
About 12.30 PM, I went out in the bay, SOLO, and just unfurled the Genoa about 80%. The 26X to windward took off and I slowly started catching up to the boat about 1 mile ahead of me. It was a Catalina 27 with full Main Sail only. I passed the 27 and we started racing, he was able to tack closer to windward, but I was still gaining. as We reached the end of the bay and headed back downwind I just walked away from the 27. The Gusts kept knocking me over and I went back to the dock before it got too bad.
It was a great feeling to pass other boats, usually they all pass us.. Maybe the 27 was a novice, or maybe being late in Summer he had a fouled bottom, and I had just scrubbed my bottom before leaving the dock that morning.
Sunday around noon the NOAA weather forecast was calling for 25-30mph south winds on Lake Erie.
NOAA forecast was calling for Gale warning to begin at 4PM with Gusts over 50 MPH. The Tail end of IKE still going
With High winds, and no crew, I didnt want to hoist the mainsail..
About 12.30 PM, I went out in the bay, SOLO, and just unfurled the Genoa about 80%. The 26X to windward took off and I slowly started catching up to the boat about 1 mile ahead of me. It was a Catalina 27 with full Main Sail only. I passed the 27 and we started racing, he was able to tack closer to windward, but I was still gaining. as We reached the end of the bay and headed back downwind I just walked away from the 27. The Gusts kept knocking me over and I went back to the dock before it got too bad.
It was a great feeling to pass other boats, usually they all pass us.. Maybe the 27 was a novice, or maybe being late in Summer he had a fouled bottom, and I had just scrubbed my bottom before leaving the dock that morning.