Current Events and Traffic Reports

There were a lot more boats that these this week.

This past week saw 50 degree temperatures, a ripping current and an astonishing 20 boats on the water at the Barrington Yacht Club frostbite series.  Almost all of the usual suspects from last year returned, as well as a number of new frostbiters from around the region.

The racers struggled with the current for most of the day, including a starting line that faced upwind, but down current. It was odd to see a number of boats a hundred feet or more behind the line at the 30 second mark.  Races would take about 3 minutes to get to the windward mark, then 15 to get to the leeward mark against the current. The leeward mark proved to be particularly troublesome, with lots of bumping and protests as a number of racers misplayed the mark and instead of rounding, got pushed back into the rest of the fleet.  Sometimes 10 or more boats were caught in the jam ups.  Skippers who rounded well to the outside tended to gain a number of places just by sailing around the traffic.

Barrington newcomer Pete Giuliano beat all comers to finish first for the day, with Bill Brangiforte taking 2nd and Les Johnston taking 3rd.  Barrington newcomers but well known Sunfishers Will Kresic and Bill Shaw rounded out the top 5. We'd also like to welcome Glen Elliot, Marta Chlus, Richard Smith, Max Curry and Adam Klipfel, along with Massapoag's John Houstle to the Barrington fleet.  It's great to see so many new faces in the BYC Frostbite fleet.

Even Massapoag upped their ante a bit. MYC Member John Houstle joined the fray at Barrington for the first time, and beat out Bernadette Levesque and Mark Stoughton to finish first among MYC members.

Racing continues next week. Current forecasts call for another day of light winds, but the current will be flowing towards the club, making the last race to the dock a bit faster.