Kathy I'm Lost

An entry in our Navigation group writing project from Wavedancer...

A failure to communicate

It hadn't been a good regatta up to now. Very little wind and too much chop made it hard to keep my Laser going around the course. Not an unusual scenario for late summer sailing on the Chesapeake Bay. So far, two finishes in the lower third of the Radial group. But hey, there's always the next race and one shouldn't focus on the past, a wise sailor once said (Tillerman?). Didn't I read somewhere that one has to instruct the brain that each race is a new one? OK then; let's ratchet up the attitude and try again. With about ten boats and a long line, it wasn't hard to get a decent start. And this time, my start was just about perfect. Off the line with good speed at the horn, and nobody uncomfortably close. Just motoring along on starboard tack in clean air, keeping the boat flat. Thinking about the water molecules gently kissing the blades. Hey, I even got a lift; life is great! Getting close to the port lay line now; time for a tack. Roll tacks aren't my forte, but this one went reasonably well. Going for the mark and no starboard boats to interfere with my plans. Around in first place; who is going to believe this? But where are the other boats? Nobody seems to be following. Are my tactics and boat speed that much better? Looking around, the others are way out there, to the right. What's going on? No, this can't be; is there 'another' upwind mark? Yes, I slowly realize that there is! Changing course now, but must accept the fact that a DFL is coming up.

Well, there is always next time...

Note to self: Make an appointment with brain surgeon to repair wiring in navigational skill set.