Frostbite Series March 13, 2021

March 13 when Ceaser’s galleys plied the Mediterranean was known as “two days before the Ides of March.” The ancient Roman calendar was derived from the lunar cycle: the day of the new moon was called Kalends; the day the moon reached its first quarter was the Nones; and the full moon was the Ides. The “Kalends” section of the lunar phase was the longest spanning the entire time of the waning moon (from full moon to new moon).

On March 13, 2021 this was all turned on its head. March 13 coincided with the new moon—as far removed from the Ides as we can get. No galleys turned out for our Frostbite series. After all this is not R2AK or WA360! Marconi ruled the day with five Thunderbirds, a Rhodes 27, a Spittsgatter, a Bystedt 30, and a Lyle Hess Bristol Channel Cutter. The sun was out. The mountains were out. The SE wind disappeared as the fleet was trying to get its bearings prior to the start. “A short postponement,” announced Dale Dunning on VHF -68. “We’ve ordered up new wind and it will be here shortly!” And so it was. Initially from the NE, and then in the middle of the start sequence firmly from NNW. Gusts rolled in from the cliffs behind the ferry dock and the town making for a lively close reach up to the red bell buoy and back to the start-finish a half mile off the Boat Haven breakwater.

Joe Daubenberger was out with his powerboat Belle documenting the day with some nice shots. By the end of the first race the wind had shifted solidly to the NW. Belle reset a starting line in the middle of the Bay and steamed towards Indian Point to anchor as a weather mark. And we got in a short second race. Thank you Joe. Thanks to all for coming out.

Order of finish: