Practice Start

1900 PDT (yesterday sorry to be late with this post), 33.41.6 N, 118.16.5 W,Wind 285M 18 knots Cloud Cover zero, Start + 18 hours.

In 2001 we managed the distinction of being late for the start. Everyone including the Race Committee got a big kick out of it. Some one commented that it was a real shame to travel 1500 miles and then be late for the start.

In an effort to avoid that stigma again the plan B crew, + Long Beach Host Ben Smith, headed out to the starting area and practise sailed the (hopefully only) Upwind Leg to the west end of Catalina. I am informed that they managed the West End without taking. And the winds were good (around 20 knots) on the way back they spun out a couple of times but also set a new speed record for this trip of 17 .6 knots.

The Tall Ship Lynx, pictured above will also be on the starting line tomorrow and they were out getting the feel of things on Sunday too.

Everyone sounds ready, even anxious, to be out there. Tomorrow they get their wish!

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