2024 Singlehanded Vallejo Race - Westsail 32 Tortuga

Westsail 32 Tortuga sailed in the Singlehanded Sailing Society’s Vallejo 1-2 race this past weekend. The forecast was not looking promising with super light winds. On Saturday, race 1 saw enough wind and favorable current to get the boats over the start line and on their way to Vallejo. It was a bummer to watch a collision of 2 boats before my start. Hoping all was OK for both boats. Keeping a close watch around the starting area is key as boats are changing course constantly and we are all short handed. So I always try to keep out of starting area until my sequence begins and give way regardless. Tortuga had a great start, hitting the line just after the gun and on a starboard tack. We were powered up with the large light air jib and made our way into the heavier current. Lots of tacking back and forth working our way upwind towards the San Rafael Bridge. There was a nice current and about 10 knots of breeze so we were doing 6-7 knots for the first few hours. The wind lighten up a lot after Point Pinole and we were able to get down towards the long wharf at Davis Point by 3pm. At that point we were drifting sideways and not going to clear it. so I dropped the sails, turn on the engine and retired. We made it farther than I thought I would. I was hoping to eke out a finish but it was not to be. There were quite a few boats that dropped out too, but the light racier boats were able to get into Vallejo Yacht Club before the wind shut down. It was HOT and in the 90s by the time I got in and docked up at VYC. Great hospitality from the VYC!
Looking at the current and wind forecast for the Sunday race I knew it was a lost cause to try to sail back to the finish in Richmond in light winds and a building flood, so decided to take advantage of the ebb in the early morning and made awesome time back to the central bay in flat calm waters. This was the last race of the season for @singlehanded Sailing Society.
Next up - The Three Bridge Fiasco in Jan 2025!
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