Our first major regatta! Crewed
by a 100% veteran team of three, Nauti Dog competed in the 2017 Buzzards Bay
Regatta Dick Fontaine Distance Race.
The Dick Fontaine Distance
Race is its own standalone trophy race within the Buzzards Bay Regatta (BBR)
held on the first day of BRR in memorial Dick Fontaine. Points earned during distance
race are carried over too day two and three of BBR. BRR is a total of three
days starting on a Friday and concluding Sunday afternoon.
Approaching the yellow
racing circle late we watched Class 1 start from a distance followed by Class 2
and 3. Thinking we missed the start of the Distance Race only Class we saw the
50 and 53 boats doing circles. So we waited and circled too. Finally we saw all
three classes return to finish. Later the Race Committee broadcasted the Distance
Race start would start 12:45. Also that Distance Race boat were combined with the
other Classes. The course and Lat/Long of the W drop mark were broadcasted and
noted in hieroglyphics on the cockpit side. We were assigned to Class 3
thankfully since we only has our homemade Code 3 signal flag. Class 3 started
at 12:55 and Nauti Dog crossed after what felt several minutes. 
Watching a fog bank
rolling in, W mark was nowhere to be seen. Hearing other boats requesting visibility
status at the mark and also another boat “guiding” two other boats using their
radar I made call to RETIRE given our position was close to our home port than
the finish. Changing course we motor sailed straight to the harbor barley beating
the fog.
COURSE: U-W(p)-K(p)-H(p)-W(s)-U
DISTANCE: 18.05 NM
CLASS START: 12:55 at Mark
U
RETIRED: approaching
Mark W
