Lake Erie Interclub Race and Rally - Erie to Dover Race

For this race we had to get up at 4am, leave the dock by 4:30, for a 5:30 race start. Neither Sharon or I function very well in the morning and usually consume multiple cups of coffee before attempting anything, let alone a race start with 50 other boats milling around. You have to feel sorry for Paul, the only morning person aboard. Anyway we successfully started the race with about 12 knots of wind which allowed us an exciting bit of sailing through the channel with the 3 other competitors in our fleet. Once out on to the Lake and heading for the Point the wind gradually disappeared.

Here they come. The other fleets are started at 5 minute intervals with the largest
boats starting last.

And there they go.

Zatarra is a heavy cruising boat, we even have a dingy with an outboard motor strapped to the back. Hardly a race boat accessory. She sails very well in 12 knots plus. She wallows about sadly in the 4, then 3, then 2 knots. Even though we had the Asymetrical sail up, it didn't help much. Finally after 4 hours we realized we were not going anywhere and certainly not going to get to Port Dover in time, so we turned on the motor (allowed in the rally or cruising division) and motored home.
We past a lot of boats, bobbing, with sad droopy spinnakers, while their crews baked in the sun.

Back past the Long Point Lighthouse again with the water looking like glass.

One of our rally fleet competitors, Barefoot, trying to find some little puff of wind so they could sail across the finish line. We motored across. We had the dubious honour of being the first boat across the line and dutifully reported our 4hr and 25min motoring time.
We were greeted first by Jeff, Jacqui, Dianne and Alan (our Monday night committee boat team) on Unison. They were the backup committee boat if the official one was unable to get to the finish line on time.

We were also greeted by Brian, who escorted us in to the customs dock. Our passports where checked and we were free to head back to our dock in the Harbour Marina.
We were all exhausted. Up too early and a long, hot day on the water. I went home, swam, bathed, did a load of laundry, ate supper and fell into bed.
We learned later that only 16 of the racing boats finished the race. Some retired from the race when they realized they couldn't make it in time and others kept on racing but did not cross the finish line by the designated time (7pm), how discouraging.