Slow Train to Vallejo

Little Cat entered in the singlehanded Vallejo I+II race a couple of weeks ago. We didn't have the best race. I messed up the start and got caught below the line against the tide and with just a breath of wind - crossed the line 25 minutes late. The wind was down to 5 knots or less by the time we reached Pt San Pablo and the tide had turned already. The long slow haul across San Pablo Bay had its moments when the wind came around onto a reach and we started to gain on some of the monohulls at the back of the pack. We made it to about a mile or two from the Vallejo Breakwater and called it a day as the wind died completely.

But all was not lost - the weather was fantastic and I had a great day out! The best part was in the dying stages of the wind - it came aft and I popped the new spinnaker, and managed 2-3 knots for a while against the tide with what must have been around 5 knots or less of wind. Huge credit to the F24 crew that won the race in the light-air conditions.

After pulling out of the race, we turned around and rode the tide back to Pt Pinole for the night. I also called in a DNC for the return race the next day as it was starting the next morning against the tide and with a no-wind forecast. That race was doublehanded and was won by an F27 despite the adversities.

Pt Pinole pier ruins emerge in the morning fog

Next morning saw dense fog with visibility only a few hundred yards. We headed back to the Bay navigating by GPS and staying out of the shipping lane and Vallejo Ferry routes. Stopped for lunch at Red Rock until the fog cleared and then had a great sail home into a freshening Westerly. Great weekend!