2015 Laser District 10 Championship: Sunday
Despite a dismal forecast we ended up with better wind than Saturday for the 2nd day of the Laser District 10 Championship at Manasquan River Yacht Club. Out on the ocean course we started on time and sailed 3 races in 6-9 knot breezes. I generally didn’t start well which put me in a tough spot for the first beat and I settled for just below mid-fleet in each race.
The excitement for the day was the ride in – since we had better wind than expected, we finished the racing sooner than expected and before the current turned to go back into the river. So to return to the club we were sailing downwind and up current. Most of the trip was fine until we got to the bridges. The railroad bridge is only about 40-50ft wide and only 1 maybe two boats can get through there at a time. The current also rips through the 1 span that boats can go through.
With some well-timed and vicious sculling and pumping I made it through on the first try. Others weren’t so lucky and had to make a couple attempts, get a tow, or one unlucky sailor made it through only to be pushed back into the bridge where he went back under it tipped over while trying to be towed out. The 2nd bridge was a little easier, but still a struggle to get under.