ATI

A light northerly breeze led the race committee to set course X-Ray (starting to the north) which in these conditions invariably results in an event filled with surprises, and this year wouldn't disappoint in that regard.  Five J/22's, including last year's winner Dudley Docker, sailed by Westy Barlow, took the gun as class Delta (fourth group to start), one of only two one-design classes.  

A strong ebb tide immediately favored the boats that headed directly for the mooring field and current relief, led by Catch, with Bob Parsons at the helm.  Dudley Docker and Machbuster both tested the middle, hoping for better breeze, but quickly finding themselves dropping back, had joined the short- tackers - at the back of the line - by the north end of Potter's Cove.Catch led the way up the Jamestown shore, never more than 200 yards from land, in a classic demonstration of the dramatic impact the tide gradient can have on apparent wind when beating into a foul current in light air.John Parsons, lurking nearby on Catch's chase boat Minnow, must have delighted in seeing his sons giving a lesson to the rest of Fleet 12. 

Only once near the north end did Catch get caught a little too far out, momentarily allowing Machbuster, who had slowly clawed back from last at the Newport Bridge, to lead.   As the J/22's crept towards the first mark (can #3), what breeze there was had veered to the northeast.  The twelve meter Freedom glided past the near stationary 22's at this point, the only larger yacht to do so before can #5. The nimble little J's had been short-tacking aggressively for nearly two hours while the larger racer/cruisers were languishing in the deeper waters of the channel.  Catch led Bad News by a few boat lengths at the mark, while Machbuster and Blues eRacer were together 150 yards back.  The leg from can#3 to can #5 was a close spinnaker reach parade with no significant change in positions.  Upon rounding can #5, the fleet finally had a chance to spread out on the run, and wasted no time in doing so.  Bad News sailed higher than Catch towards the Jamestown shore on the left, while Machbuster went right and Blues eRacer sailed higher, faster and farther right.  Dudley Docker, with a view of everyone, chose the middle.  

Halfway to the Jamestown Bridge, it became apparent that the right side was favored as Blues eRacer's higher gybing angle and possibly better breeze had brought her even with the nearby Machbuster, as well as Catch and Bad News, now a quarter mile to their left.  As the boats began to converge for the center span of the bridge, it was clear that the first four positions had now, in fact, inverted since rounding can #5.  Dudley Docker was still in fifth but closing, as were a score of larger spinnaker class boats.  With most J/22 eyes looking back for wind and overtaking boats, it wasn't apparent until 500 yards north of the bridge that the the course had been shortened to that point.  Blues eRacer was suddenly now the boat to beat, and while her closest rival, Machbuster, was at this point sailing higher and faster, she was too far astern and had to duck a starboard gybe sport boat in the last fifty yards.  Bad News, reaching in from the left, was third still within a minute of Blues eRacer after nearly four hours of sailing.  Catch, her masterful windward leg spoiled by the fickle breeze on the run, salvaged fourth, while Dudley Docker came fifth, only three minutes behind the winner.

The J/22 fleet finished amidst a fusilade of cannon fire, as only a handful of low handicap boats had sailed through the 22's, and it seemed as if most class winners got their gun during the three minutes while we were finishing.   And so, after a promising early season had been disappointingly cut short by unforeseen circumstances, Blues eRacer's dramatic come back victory today became a metaphor for her entire season, which certainly finished on a high note.  Even perennial bridesmaid Machbuster gained a small measure of revenge by nosing out this year's nemesis, season champ Bad News, at the line.