BWY is having its intermediate sailing class tonight and I thought I would attend to chat informally at breaks about PHRF-NW race experience. Tod's Double Shot has established a race course tradition. The boat (renamed Nepenthe) plays the hound. Those of us in single hulled Macgregors sail in cruising class and get a 30 minute head start owing to that. Nepenthe then trys to catch the "foxes" before the first mark. Prior to overlap they count .. one, two three and then put fists in air and yell MACGREGOR!. How cool is that.
In any case, its more friendly on the PHRF courses. The explained role of the Macgrogors
(to let the BS win) is falling away.
BS stands for big ship as well as Bravo Sierra and since Murrelet has been racing it has encouraged boats as small as 22 foot to also race. The BS boats still believe that larger means faster but their crews can't help but notice Murrelet pass from time to time and the old courtesy - meant to sooth the egos of the BS owners - of not listing DNS boats (boats that drop out and do not notify the committee boat on purpose) is not being extended. So there is now a public humiliation penalty for pouting after being passed. Things are changing for the better and I would like to see more Macgregor's racing.
Frank L. Mighetto
Mac26x Murrelet
