Farr 400 test sailing with spin pole

We have tried something new with the Farr 400.  Adding a spinnaker pole for handicap racing under the ORCi rating system.  The idea was to be able to sail competitively in the range of 6-14 knots.  The 400, Sonnenkonig is sailing here on the first try in 8-9 knots of wind doing 7.75-8.6 knots at 158 true wind angle. We start racing today, Monday, June 24 in Punta Ala, Italy.  We will see how we go.  But at least in this condition it should be fast...

Stand by

Dee

Flying Jenny 7 Wins Second NYYC 158th Annual Regatta

FJ Sailing Team mastered the light airs off Newport RI during the 158th NYYC Annual Regatta.  We only got in two races over the two day regatta as the sea breeze was late to show each day.  On the first race, Jenny and Vesper went al the way out to the left side.  This allowed Interlodge to get over to the right and hit the big right shift to lead at the first mark.  Jenny forced Vesper over about 2 minutes fromt he layline, we continued to the just under the layling where we found a good shift back to the left and was able to get some back on the Interlodge.

Downwind the race was diecided as Interlodge gybed off to port and we continued in the lefty we had going into the mark.  When they came back we had more wind and a good shift.  It also helped that they cought their spinnaker on the mast and ripped it.  We slid on by to win the race, Interlodge second and Vesper third.

After waiting almost 3 hr on the ast day to get a race in the start was 30 minutes before the limit.  Vesper with their third figured that if they pushed us to third they would win on a count back tie.  So right off the start, Gavin started to match race us.  We did our best to hang tough to be second to Vesper at the top mark and closed in on the run.  Maybe they that made it easier for them to push us back and they did.  After about 15 tacks we round the last top mark 4th about 1 minute behind.  There was better breeze ont he right side going upwind and as the fleet ahead headed off to the right facing downwind, we gybed to port and sailed all the way to layline.  As we approached the finish it was apparent we passed everyone except Vesper but, we had the starboard advantage on them.  We finished overlapped and corrected on Sled by 13 seconds to get the second place we needed to win the regatta.

There is some great footage on YouTube at

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSaY0ASEojE&feature=relmfu

Blue Class 2 - IRC 2 (IRC - 5 Boats)

1. Flying Jenny 7, IRC 52 52, David and Sandra Askew , Annapolis, MD, USA - 1, 2, ; 3

2. Vesper, TP 52 52, Jim Swartz , Park City, UT, USA - 3, 1, ; 4

3. Interlodge, IRC 52 52, Austin and Gwen Fragomen , Newport, RI, USA - 2, 4, ; 6

Leukemia Cup, Annapolis, 2012, Team Premier, Farr 400

All photos from Sandy Askew

Best day sailing in Annapolis, ever for me.  Great boat in the Farr 400, Team Premier.  Great crew with a bunch of locals, Dave Askew, owner of Flying Jenny 7, Ian Gordon and Emerson Smith from the Farr office, Matt Beck, our insurance man, Ted Haarland from Annapolis Rigging, Mike Beasley from Beasley Marine and one one transplant, Chris Hosking from Newport.  They all gave a hand for the cause of racing well  and raising money for cancer research.

The main goal here is to raise money.  We set about it sending mails out to the wild marine people and industry.  The reaction was very positive.  In Fact, Team Premier was the top fund raiser of the regatta, the big win.  A big thank you to all that did donate.  It is not too late to donate your share at http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/deesmithFarr400/lcr.

The racing was fun.  There were 3 races, all in a 10-20 knot Northwester, very shifty and puffy.  We had two good starts but one over the line early, but we did win each race against 2 Farr 40's and Stray Dog, GP 42.  The boat went really well upwind and down.

We sailed under PHRF and won each race by many minutes.  The races were all about 4.7 miles long, so there was a lot of action. 

This week it is off to Newport to sail Flying Jenny 7 in the Annual Regatta.

Dee