Race #1: May 27, 2013, dist. 7.7nm, courseWK2X, winds WSW 8-15.  Gemini was 2^nd across the line, but corrected to 5^th place with our initial PHRF rating of 108. Crew was myself, my co-owner Rob, our wives and my twin 5yo boys.  Although we were short-handed, and failed to get the course down at the start, I thought we performed considerably well for our first race with NO modifications to the boat other than the racing bottom and using the stock Dacron cruising sails (including the self-tacker).  Pointing was a bit of an issue versus other boats, as we were sailing 5-10degrees lower than my competition.  I learned later to ‘inhaul’ the self-tacker 6-8” from the end of the track for max pointing.  It might have helped if I could have completed a jibe in the last downwind leg but I called it off when I saw my boys asleep in the cockpit.  PHRF rating at this time was 108. We were correted over by boats in the 138 to 165 range.

Race #2: June 12, 2013, dist 3.5nm, course M-C-H-X, winds WNW 7-10kts at the start, but died.  Gemini finished DFL (4^th place) against a fleet of larger boats (42-45ft so more LWL) and one liter race boat (Bene 367 first).  Though we had a good start, and kept up ok through the first leg, we couldn’t keep up with the bigger boats on the reaching legs with our stock sails.  On the last downwind leg, the winds dropped below 6kts and the boat basically parked.  We finished 6mins 15secs behind 1^st and 2mins 20secs behind 3^rd.

Race#3: June 16, 2013, dist. 5.2nm, course WKMGMX, Winds SW 6-11 (closer to 6 and liter).  Gemini finished DFL again out of 5boats.  We got ‘horizoned’ by an Express 37.  I have learned if the winds drop below 6kts, especially with the self-tacking jib, just crack open the beer and start drinking.

Race#4: July 4^th, dist. 6.1nm, course WMWMYX, Winds SW 8-13kts:  4^th of 5 boats.  Again, we did not get the course down which really hurt us, but struggled to compete against other liter race boats with more sail area.  Still had trouble pointing as well as boat speed under the self-tacker.  Finished 3^rd non-corrected.

Race#5: July 24, 2013, dist. 3.46nm, course M-T-L-X, winds N6-8kts: 5^th out of 7 boats.

Race#6: July 28, 2013, dist. 6.5nm, course WD2X, winds SE 5-9kts (closer to 9kts).  Our new Quantum Fusion MR5000 racing sails arrived (main and 145 genoa)!!! The traveler is installed along with the new genoa tracks.   Gemini finished 2^nd out of 6 boats!!!  Conditions were near perfect for our brand new 145 genoa and the crew performed well.

Race#7: August 4, 2013. dist. 6.8nm, course DGHDHX, winds NNW-W 6-16ths.  Gemini finished 4^th of 6 boats with PHRF our rating of 105 even though we were 2^nd across the line.  Winds were shifty and up and down, so we were overpowered at times with our 145 genoa up.

Race#8: Aug 7th 2013, 3.3nm, W-J-M-X, winds SE 10-11kts, Gemini finishes 6^th of 7 boats 1min 30secs behind 3^rd place.

Race #9: Aug 18, 2013, dist 4.4nm, winds ENE=ESE 6-9kts, Gemini finished 1^st on a corrected basis with our new PHRF rating of 120 out of 4 boats, 6 seconds ahead of the Bene 36.7 that won every other race and placed 2^nd this time.  Now the other skippers are really grumbling about our new PHRF rating. 

Race#10: Aug 21, dist. 3.2nm, course W-J-M-X, winds S @ 10kts, 1^st place of 13 boats.  PHRF rating had been changed to 120 putting Gemini in to our club’s Division 2.  Winds were perfect for 145 genoa and two great reaching legs.  We were 1^st across the line and tied for 1^st place with a Metalmast 30 on corrected basis.  Finished just ahead of a Farr 33 also rated 120. 

Race #11: August 25^th, 2013, dist 6.3nm, course GPITW1, Winds SSE 7-11kts.  Gemini finished 3^rd of 5 boats on corrected basis and 3^rd non-corrected as well behind the Bene 36.7 and NY 36 race boats.

Race #12: Aug 28^th.  Started but abandoned due to lack of wind.  We probably would have finished close to last given the very light winds had the race not been abandoned.

Race #13 September 2^nd 2013, dist 5.2nm, WN2X, Winds SE.  Finished 4^th of 5 boats.  Corrected and non-corrected.  Winds were a little heavier, and we attempted to race with our 145 genoa and main reefed upwind which left us a bit over powered at times.

Race #14: , September 22^nd 2013, dist 7.8nm, WH3x, Winds NW 10-22kts.  1^st across the line, but 2^nd place corrected.  Beat out on corrected basis by a Sabre 34 with a 165 handicap rating vs. Gemini at 120.  Winds were heavy and ossiliating up and down.  Used the self-tacker as #3 jib which proved smart move given the heavier winds.  Did not reef the main, which at times left us over-powered upwind.

Race #15, October 12^th, 2012. The 58^th annual Indian Harbor Yacht Club “Gearbuster” Race - Dist 20nm (Greenwhich to Eaton’s neck and back), Winds 15-30kts, Class 5 – PHRF Non-Spinnaker 120 and under.  A “Gearbuster for the Ages”.  Gemini finished 2^nd of 9 boats both corrected and non-corrected.  The weather was rough with winds typically ranging between 20-30kts and waves over 6’ in Long Island Sound.  One boat was DNS and two more were DNF.  We had our new 109% jib with vertical battens that proved perfect for the conditions and reefed the main for the upwind leg. 1^st leg was a long beat.  We had a rough start not hitting the line right after the gun, and started on port tack with a starboard tacker hunting us down from the other side of the line.  Although tactically it would have been better to duck, given the conditions I thought it was safer seamen move to tack.  We found out later we were protested, but prevailed in the hearing.  Once we tacked back out the J100 was WAY ahead, and the Tripp 37 about 10-20 boat lengths ahead.  That said, we slowly and methodically reeled them back in.  Down wind, we shook out the reef in the main and hooked up the wisker pole.  Not an easy task in 20+kts of wind and surfing down 6+ ft waves.  As we approached Greenwich harbor we caught up to the Tripp37, overlapped them about a 0.5nm from the finish and just edged them out at the finish.  We were 8mins 7 secs behind on the J100 corrected basis.  The crew got a real workout and did terrific.  The 109% jib was a great addition to the sail inventory, and should work well up to 25kts true.  Above that I’ll use the self-tacker.  Above 20kts, I believe the main must be reefed upwind.  For more interesting commentary, checkout http://www.indianharboryc.com/default.aspx?p=.NET_ArticleView&qfilter=&tview=0&itemID=303213&chgs=&ssid=273876" rel="nofollow - http://www.indianharboryc.com/default.aspx?p=.NET_ArticleView&qfilter=&tview=0&itemID=303213&chgs=&ssid=273876

  which has some pretty good footage from some other boats.

Hope my fellow Hanse racers found this useful.  I am looking forward to a much better 2nd year racing Gemini.

 

James Coffman