Hurricane Bill’s track to the east of New England worked well for Fleet 12, as the big ocean swell kept the lower bay powerboat traffic down and the storm’s presence held off the significant cold front approaching from the west. As a result of this standoff, another glorious day for racing awaited the J/22’s this week.

Race Committee Chair Priscilla Szneke and Louis Mariorenzi set a race #1 course of Zp, 13p in a 12 knot southwesterly breeze and a strong ebb tide. As is always the case in these conditions, getting the pin tackle to set is a challenge for even the best of seamen. In this instance, the committee’s well-planned effort was subverted by the unreported (other than on these pages) splice in the anchor line as a result of a prior committee having fouled the line in similar conditions. So the first race start was a bit of a shambles as the pin went from unfavored to square to strongly favored in the last three minutes before the gun. In fact, the fleet was basically chasing the pin down the bay in a perversion of a “rabbit” start. It couldn’t have been easy, but Conundrum managed to get caught over early and had to return, leaving Good News and Bad News in by far the best position. These two had such an advantage that the race was virtually over for the others. Machbuster eventually worked her way past USA 1575 just at Z and a confounded Conundrum found herself last at a mark for the first time in at least a year. On the run to the can, Bad News drew away from Good News, and Conundrum caught and passed USA 1575, while Machbuster held her place. There was no change on the short beat home and the Marshall’s secured yet another victory in a dominant season.

The race #2 line was set square between a mooring to the west of Mark #3 and Mark #3 as the pin. The course was lengthened to Zp, Tp (Rose Island Nun), Zs, 13p. This time the start was close to even and the fleet all headed out into the ebb current in a starboard tack drag race. Only after several minutes, did USA 1575 get forced right, followed soon thereafter by Conundrum and both had to take Machbuster’s transom. As the fleet approached Z there were a number of close crossings and only Bad News had established an apparent lead of about five boat lengths. Coming in from the left, Machbuster squeezed in for second at Z but was immediately rolled by Conundrum during the ensuing spinnaker set. The run to Rose Island created an interesting strategic opportunity for the now closely packed fleet as the strong adverse current made what visually seemed to be a reach, in reality a run. Machbuster sailed the farthest right at a higher angle than the others before finally jibing back to the nun, and regained second as a result. After the beat back to Z, the positions remained unchanged as Conundrum stayed within a boat length of Machbuster and USA 1575 and Good News were only a few lengths farther back. Only Bad News was seemingly again able to extend a few lengths at each mark. Machbuster and Conundrum continued their battle for second on the last run to the can which featured the blue boat’s barely crossing ahead on port jibe to the inside postion as they approached the bridge. Good News had some spinnaker problems and dropped back from USA 1575, who may have been sailing her best race of the year. With Bad News still safely ahead, Machbuster led Conundrum at 13 by a length and Bill Porter’s crew was forced to tack for clear air. By now the current was lessening, so Machbuster stayed on port all the way into the moorings before a short tack to the finish line. Luckily the decision not to cover Conundrum was vindicated as the two maintained the same separation as they crossed the line after a race-long battle. Matt Dunbar’s USA 1575 was only a few lengths farther back with Good News bringing up the rear, but everyone, including the invincible Bad News, finishing within perhaps two minutes after a long race.

The Marshall Brothers have now clinched the season title with their third double bullet performance. Likewise, Bill and Alice Porter have a lock on second, and Machbuster third. Nevertheless, expect a competitive fleet next week vying for the last two engraved tumblers and tuning up for the Around The Island classic in two weeks.