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Luca B. Svien 6 1 7
Maiden C. Markman 3 4 7
Sue W. Nickerson 4 5 9
Bonne Chance M. Chambers 5 7 12
Dave Brian L. Mumford 7 6 13

Quarterbarrel Regatta
The Quarterbarrel Regatta had an unexpected twist this year: not a
single Ensign made it over the finish in time. Because this is a distance
race, and the weather models all agreed, it was expected that the boats
would make the race out and back in the posted time of 3 hours.

Per the Sailing Instructions, we posted (and discussed at the sailor's
meeting) a course with an upwind start inside the harbor rounding a mark
to port, with the option to sail out of the harbor via the center or south
gap, excluding the north gap from the list of options for the southbound
trip. This course was designed for the safety of the sailors accounting for
conditions. Had we allowed boats to sail out the north gap, they would
have had to get there by sailing downwind against a very large fleet in a
very small space.

When our Race Committee arrived to set a starting line, the wind had
already shifted northeast (and dropped), so we postponed and
announced a change to the course: instead of a westbound start with an
upwind mark to port, we set an eastbound start with an upwind mark to
starboard. We hailed all racers on Channel 16 to listen on Channel 72
and explained the change three times and boat-to-boat.

Then we started the race and began to monitor weather conditions.
Since the wind direction had switched to the east quicker than forecast,
and day was to be hot, we were confident that the southeaster would
strengthen in time to carry the fleet to the finish within the allotted three
hours. Instead, the southeaster final filled, but about 30 minutes too late.
Unfortunately, no Ensign finished within the time limit, so we were unable
to score the fleet. Ironically, by the time boats were docking, whitecaps
were forming.

Next year, if staffing and fleet allow, we plan to increase the time limit
and we may publish alternative courses to account for changeable
conditions.

Ensign Championship
Competitors in the 2023 Ensign Champs had to wait out a one-hour
postponement for rain. The storm passed, leaving a gorgeous, steady

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