Half way point, no racing yet, a casualty in B3
11 September 2015The first race was scheduled for 10.55 this morning. The wind was too light set a course... the fleet mingled close to the committee boat under hot sun waiting for the postponement to end. A VHF radio update changed all that - a lightening storm was fast approaching & for safety we were to be towed promptly back to harbour! Back on the shore the horizon did look a purplish colour, but would there really be a storm? Then the temperature dropped and wind rapidly clawed the water. Later rain poured, but there was less lightening than we saw while waiting to begin the first practice day. Sadly Rachel from the B3 team has her right arm in a sling - a nasty fall on board sent her to hospital with a damaged shoulder... she'll mend in about 6 weeks but won't be able to sail in a blow... B3 are negotiating for a replacement team member. By mid afternoon today sailing might have been possible but for the early evening social calendar: lauch of the long awaited documentary film on blind sailing, "Sense the Wind", at the prestigious Munro Station of Chicago Yacht Club. I've bought a DVD copy and recommend it! We were treated to a fine feast.
Canada's B1 team will have a Chicago Yacht Club member blindfolded to sail as replacement since the helmsman Brian is returning home tomorrow following news of the death of his 94 yr old mum.
The forecast is for storms sufficiently violent to cause flooding of land near the Yacht Club. We don't yet know if we be sailing or sight-seeing tomorrow. It's all part of competitive sailing!