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Milford Last Chance Regatta by Mike Morrow

Mike has submitted this report from the non-spinnaker boats. Thanks Mike

Saturday of course called for a slight midday lull and a persistent shift to the East. Lo and behold that's exactly what we got. The race was a great test for the helmsman upwind as the shifts were radical and random. As it turned out, the boats that didn't point well were able to fetch, whereas those who pointed had to come way down to the mark. Pico, the J 120, went way low whereas Slingshot and the Tartan 28 were high. The way back was a reach. Pico way ahead, then Slingshot and Surrender. At three miles from the finish we couldn't find the committee boat. Then we saw Golden Rule in Class C take a sharp turn down and throw up the spinnaker. We all went down (about 5 boats in Classes C and D) following her and spotted the finish line approximately 1/2 to 1 mile north of the start line. Needless to say, we were all very upset!   It was explained to me this way. They wanted to make the downwind leg more downwind and they didn't have a chase boat to notify us. They also claimed it would be unfair to notify us on VHF just in case someone wasn't listening. They obviously dropped the ball on this one. Their idea backfired as no one sailed low until the last minute when they realized what was going on. Those lucky enough to be a little low made significant gains on those sailing directly to the original pin. Rumor has it that Whichcraft corrected out to first.    No doubt the committee boat's intentions were good, but the results for class C and D are tainted.   Sunday was a great race day. Lots of wind and shifts and, thank God, a government mark directly upwind. Slingshot, Surrender, Paikea and Decision all got great starts but Surrender stayed left when everyone went over right. When we met up again Slingshot had lost ground. Later in the leg, Paikea went left a little too long on a header and lost her slight lead. Surrender rounded the mark first and spread wing on wing for the uneventful, but fast, cruise to the finish and the gun. Mike

Last Chance Class A by M. Kondracky

The Last Chance Regatta, hosted by Milford Yacht Club, served up a number of challenges for the racers.  The day started out with light winds and an AP flag.  Eventually the wind filled in from the East.  As last minute navaguesser on the Mumm 30 "2 the Max," I spent the trip out to line entering GPSs coordinates into a borrowed Garmin. Thanks Jim.  The course was from the starting line up to New Haven Harbor, back to Charles Island, followed by a shortened beat out to the starting line.  I had a tough time interpreting the course board with only 3 minutes before the start, but eventually figured out that the second letter posted (B) was the other class.     After the start we worked our way towards the shore out of a foul tide.  The wind was shifty and there was a little more pressure to the right.  We looked good at first, but found ourselves in fourth, with Skibereen ahead of Secret.  The Melges found some pressure and had worked out in front.  We tacked back to port looking for more pressure.  Eventually we came back right and found more wind.  With a dying breeze and too many pesky horse flies, we were able to sail past the Melges to windward of us.  At this point they pulled out their code zero head sail to try to reel us back.  That failed, but once they put up their headsail, they were able to come over the top of us.  The wind shifted south and we were both able to reach up and fetch the mark.  We planned a jib set but the wind was to far forward, so we power reached with our head sail.  As we worded our way back to Charles Island, Secret was gaining with her asymmetrical chute.  We followed suit, but had to drop short of the mark.  We rounded ahead of Secret and applied a close cover up to the finish line.