MAID OF KENT
2015 Schooner cup-Eric Newton
A half-hour before the start of the 27th Annual Schooner Cup, the wind picked up from its early morning doldrums to a steady 8-10 knots. The gaff schooner Regulus won the 11:30 C-Class start with Maid of Kent close to windward. Scrimshaw was the third schooner across with with tall ships Californian and Bill of Rights bringing up the rear.
As we sailed out of the harbor to Buoy 4, Californian quickly charged to the head of the fleet, reporting speeds over 9 knots. The wind picked up around Ballast Point and built to 15-20 knots before reaching the end of Point Loma. Californian rounded Buoy 4 first, hardened up, and headed into the wind and chop. Scrimshaw had passed Maid of Kent by staying in stronger winds on the west side of the channel, and rounded Buoy 4 shortly after Regulus. After her rounding, Maid of Kent tacked to take advantage of the favorable wind and tide. By the time Maid of Kent had slogged to the windward Buoy 3, most of the fleet was in sight.
The strong winds had made for a very confused sea-state, and blew out the jib and main on schooners Fame and Shine On, respectively. To the skippers credit both schooners finished under reduced sail. The tack line on Dirigo II's main gaff topsail had also come free in the windward leg. Intrepid crewman Ian Allaway scampered aloft, wrestled with the luffing sail, and retied the line as the B-fleet schooner was the first to round Buoy 3 and head back into the harbor.
Maid of Kent was the second schooner, and first in C-class, to round the mark and make for Buoy 9. About half of the fleet of schooners, all reaching impressively on the strong westerly breeze, passed the Maid of Kent before Buoy 9. Near Ballast Point, the vessels in the front of the fleet started bearing off significantly from the previous course as a large northerly header forced the fleet to beat up to Buoy 15. Shortly after Maid of Kent passed Buoy 9, the header hit and then moved further out the channel. This forced the boats in the back of the fleet to throw a few tacks to make Buoy 9, slowing them considerably and splitting the fleet.
In the beat to Buoys 15 and 17, Maid of Kent caught up with her C-class competition passing Scrimshaw and gaining valuable time on Californian. Californian surged away in the reach to the finish line, but the plucky blue schooner, Maid of Kent, would finish first in C-class on corrected time.
2015 Schooner cup-Eric Newton
A half-hour before the start of the 27th Annual Schooner Cup, the wind picked up from its early morning doldrums to a steady 8-10 knots. The gaff schooner Regulus won the 11:30 C-Class start with Maid of Kent close to windward. Scrimshaw was the third schooner across with with tall ships Californian and Bill of Rights bringing up the rear.
As we sailed out of the harbor to Buoy 4, Californian quickly charged to the head of the fleet, reporting speeds over 9 knots. The wind picked up around Ballast Point and built to 15-20 knots before reaching the end of Point Loma. Californian rounded Buoy 4 first, hardened up, and headed into the wind and chop. Scrimshaw had passed Maid of Kent by staying in stronger winds on the west side of the channel, and rounded Buoy 4 shortly after Regulus. After her rounding, Maid of Kent tacked to take advantage of the favorable wind and tide. By the time Maid of Kent had slogged to the windward Buoy 3, most of the fleet was in sight.
The strong winds had made for a very confused sea-state, and blew out the jib and main on schooners Fame and Shine On, respectively. To the skippers credit both schooners finished under reduced sail. The tack line on Dirigo II's main gaff topsail had also come free in the windward leg. Intrepid crewman Ian Allaway scampered aloft, wrestled with the luffing sail, and retied the line as the B-fleet schooner was the first to round Buoy 3 and head back into the harbor.
Maid of Kent was the second schooner, and first in C-class, to round the mark and make for Buoy 9. About half of the fleet of schooners, all reaching impressively on the strong westerly breeze, passed the Maid of Kent before Buoy 9. Near Ballast Point, the vessels in the front of the fleet started bearing off significantly from the previous course as a large northerly header forced the fleet to beat up to Buoy 15. Shortly after Maid of Kent passed Buoy 9, the header hit and then moved further out the channel. This forced the boats in the back of the fleet to throw a few tacks to make Buoy 9, slowing them considerably and splitting the fleet.
In the beat to Buoys 15 and 17, Maid of Kent caught up with her C-class competition passing Scrimshaw and gaining valuable time on Californian. Californian surged away in the reach to the finish line, but the plucky blue schooner, Maid of Kent, would finish first in C-class on corrected time.
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