Last weekend I attended the first CRAW regatta for the year, towing the Blade up north on Friday night to Lake Ripley near Cambridge, Wisconsin. Mixed results – I broke a pintle after less than 30 minutes on the water on Saturday morning. I got to crew on JJ’s F18 for the last race of the day (very cool). Then overnight Wes was able, with the help of some heat, to drive the stainless steel pin out of the pintle fitting and replace it with a bolt, allowing me to return to the water Sunday morning – mind you, with temperatures in the 40′s (single figures celcius), I wasn’t sure I really wanted to sail 
.
The boat felt great, and I fully intended to race. However I made a complete hash of both starts, crossing the line way, way late, so didn’t bother to finish. But it was great experience, particularly getting some practice hoisting and dousing the spinnaker on my own. I blew the spin pole brace on the last downwind leg, so had to douse the sail early, but I was already way adrift of the rest of the fleet, so I didn’t mind.
Here are a few photos I took -
