Round Saltspring 2014

 Sailing conditions for the 2014 Round Saltspring Island Race were epic! String Theory left her Coal Harbour berth on Friday morning and ‎motored under the Lions Gate bridge in glorious sunshine. Winds in the high teens greeted us as we set sail across the Strait of Georgia. Under a number three and full main, speeds averaging 9 knots made the crossing quick, highlighted by sailing through Porlier Pass. After an evening shoehorned into the Saltspring Island yacht Club marina with 92 other race boats it was time to face the real challenge. Race day dawned with similar conditions to the transit. A great start and tacking up Ganges Harbour saw us in first place to Beaver Point and... the wind stopped. The chasing boats caught up to us and the wind gradually filled in from behind. The race was on again. An amazing spinnaker run began, continuing all the way through Samsun Narrows and halfway up to Southey Point. Rounding Southey we were in the mix and winds were strengthening. A change from the number one to number three flattened the boat out and we started stretching away from our competitors. The Ballingas side of the channel separated us from the fleet but gave us some current relief and the lead in our division. Fighting the tide we made our way up Trincomali Channel, rounded the corner and headed back to Ganges under spinnaker. A great downwind run to the finish and a divisional first place finish! Great teamwork, enthusiasm and strategy paid off for String Theory and John proudly held his first place plaque. Congratulations to all crew for a first in division and seventh overall. Definitely in the top ten sailing experiences in my 40 years of sailing.