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West Wight Potter Mailing List maintainer
dfarrell@ridgecrest.ca.us
List hosted by www.tscnet.com
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I was out last June with a buddy. We sailed out from Richmond heading for
Angel Island. It was a pretty stiff breeze and building as we went out.
As we entered Racoon Straits, a narrow area between the island and Tiburon
on the mainland to the North, we were suddenly hit by gusts of at least 25.
Then, as with every other incident in which I have experienced a sudden
change in the intensity and/or direction of the wind, the boat simply
headed up. An intensely exhilerating "rounding up" at about a 20 degree
angle of heel. My sails are old and baggy, and we should have reefed,
however we only had one or two tacks to get into Ayala cove where we
planned to eat lunch. We sat on the rails and made it into the cove
without taking on a drop (except, as usual through the centerboard trunk).
We did bury the rail once or twice, but the boat was essentially a champ.
Later, walking on the lee side of the island. We watched as a 50 footer
came out of the lee of the island into the slot and was Knocked flat. We
ran back accross the channel in record time and enjoyed the sunset as we
lowered the mast and packed up for the day. Later in July, I went out
with four children, and we had a great time in the slot, and after beaching
at China cove, we again watched as big boats got nailed around Angel
Island. Again, the potter was a champ, I put in one reef and continued to
use the lapper and it performed well, going to windward despite heavy chop
and a 1-2 knot current in places. - Eric
Eric Zilbert
Davis "not by the sea" California
P19 #621 "Riptide"
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