Light to non-existent winds didn't stop Team Kele from enjoying a lovely evening of sailing, practicing, and sharing their mutual love of being on the water.
MSC's April 16 CYC Friday Night Race team consisted of Leigh Hunt, Felix Senepin, Pyung Yoon, Tim Cordas, and coach Captain Katie Cornetta sailing Kele, a Catalina 320. In spite of a strong start, Kele sailed into a windless patch, drifted, and got parked right behind Belvedere Point with a nice sea breeze taunting them only a hundred yards away.
The team saw boats gradually getting punched out into breeze, likely due to the beginning of the ebb tide. Finally, Team Kele was able to join the fleet in a strengthening breeze upwind to Little Harding, the first mark. Felix steered smoothly in gusty conditions in his first official race, while Tim responded quickly with dynamic mainsail trimming.
After quickly sorting out some rigging issues, the team set the spinnaker and headed down to their first leeward mark off Point Knox, with great trimming by Pyung. After dousing the kite, they made a nice leeward mark rounding and headed back to Little Harding, gaining ground on their competitors - but now it was a race against the sun! With one more spinnaker run back down to Corinthian, about a half mile from the finish, the race committee announced that it was 15 minutes after the sunset. The wind now dying, the team threw in a practice jibe and enjoyed a lovely evening sail home telling sailing stories and sharing their love for the water.
Leigh commented, "After racing white-sail only for the 2020 and SYC Chili Midwinter Series, it was super exciting to be flying a spinnaker again. Demanding, as many of us are a little rusty, but that feeling of accomplishment and joy on a great spinnaker run is back!”
April 16, 2021 Race Results
CYC Friday Night Races - Schedule & Results
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