5月のレースにKevin Blay氏が投稿されています

V.O.C. Gokasho Bay race
...8 seconds... we missed third by 8 seconds! Of course that’s adjusted time, so there was more drama in the club house than on the water as crews checked the multiplication of the handicap. It turned out correct. But where were the 8 seconds lost...poor jibes, slow trim, not fully hiking out and untimely tacks... there were probably more, but you win and learn as a team. We finished behind the oyako tandem of Kasumi Sr., a J33 and Kasumi Jr., a Yamaha 23. The other boats, in order of finish, were Azure a Deheler 32, Asama a Swing 31 and Oasis a Swan 40. The Venus crew and their positions for this race were Ryu pit/foredeck, Mitsuki tactician, myself headsail trimmer and our fearless leader Dr. Chiba at the helm also as-siting tactician and mainsail trimmer. On the water, during the pre-start tune-up, Ryu and I worked out the jibes, tacks and the spinnaker hoist while Dr. Chiba and Mitsuki discussed race tactics. Mitsuki decided that the boat end of the line was favored and the attack would begin on a starboard tack. A genoa was rigged as winds were moderate, 8-12 knots. They blew up from the Pacific, south-southwesterlies which set up a long first leg out to the mouth of the bay. The short start line was crowded at the committee end as great minds were thinking alike. The six yachts, maneuvered for positioning on starboard tacks as the count to start the race wore down. It was a clean start with five boats hitting the line within a few seconds of the gun. Dr. Chiba is well known for his generosity and decided to demonstrate it by handicapping Venus an extra minute, getting us over the line last. The elder Kasumi stormed through light seas to reach the initial mark first. She seized control of the race with a clean rounding and a quick hoist of her chute. Azure and Asama were next to the mark, they too rounded and hoisted cleanly. Oasis, Kasumi Jr. and Venus filled out the lower half of the order. We knew Venus could catch the smaller Yamaha boat on the downwind leg. Good fortune smiled upon us and we passed her as she had trouble hoisting her spinnaker. Oasis also had trouble with her kite as well and retired from the race. The race ran its course without any further position changes. Yes, size does matter. To prove it the yachts finished in that exact order on the water, 33ft through to 23ft. But the time adjustment led to a different result... Would like to thank the race committee for doing a great job on the race, as usual. As well as the club house staff for putting together another fabulous meal.