So much for forcasts, to say it was light and variable would be an understatement. I think I had the foredeck re-rig the spinaker sheets three times in the 2 minutes before our start sequence. But being great crew they never questioned my choices. We started the race on starboard hoisting the kite one boatlength from the line at the pin end.There was only one boat to windward of us and it was the J24. I could have closed the door on him but it would have ment slowing down my start so I chose not to. At this point the wind drops to 5 knots and we watch the J24 begin to sail away. No problem,this is south Florida,it doesn't stay the same for very long.
Jumping forward, the wind has increased,we are heading offshore at 60 or 70 degrees( the coastline here runs north around 30 degrees) on starboard trying to keep the apparent wind around 125. The wind shuts down again. So I am surveying the situation behind me and I see boats rounding up and all sorts of mayhem going on. Well being a prudent skipper that can't afford new sails,I call for a douse. Sure enough,we get the kite down and get hit with a 60 degree shift and wind around 20.Now we are sailing on the same compass heading, but on port tack jib reaching. Later I learned there were two broaches and three blown kites.
So the squall passes and we re-hoist and continue to make our way offshore. Time passes,as well as lots of beers, and we find ourselves gybing on the layline to the finish. Could not hit a better layline on a bet. Powered up with the A-kite at 120 aparent doing 10knts over the ground thanks to a very strong Gulf stream whitch happens to be making a left hand turn towards Lake worth Inlet.At this point there are a few boats in front of us, but they are all inshore. They did not stay in front of us for long. We managed to be first monohull across the line. The only boat that beat us over the line was a Sprint 750 trimaran,but we corrected out in front of him.
So you say, holy smokes Carl ,what a race. Sometimes you sail the best race of your life and the only thing to show is the memory. We got a fourth place in our fleet losing out to the First 235,J24, and the Ericson 35. But I know my crew was the best on the water that day.

The race was a coastal race with the course north up the coast for 30 miles. Just so happened that the wind at the start was from the south east,so we started downwind. Makes for an interesting start.

[QUOTE=Last Toy;17505]I just started racing, any suggests to make 2004 36 MKII faster. Bought a new main with vertical battens, big help. But need suggestions on how to point higher and/or go faster. Any help appreciated.[/QUOTE]

You need a good headsail for this boat to sail to it's rating. Aside from that,if you have an anchor on the bow,take it off.If you have more than one anchor,leave one on the dock. The fastest way to slow down a C36 is to have weight in the bow.

Mine lives next to the engine cover