Other details

Had a great meeting with the folks as Remote Medical (http://www.remotemedical.com/) yesterday, talking through the requirements for my medical kit and getting me all the appropriate training. One of those things that is REALLY good to have but I truly hope I will never need.
Also met yesterday with a local writer who is working on a story about myelf and Craig Horsfield for one of the national sailing magazines. Craig is doing a Mini Campaign as well and lives here in the Seattle area. Details are still being fleshed out as to when this article will appear in the magazine.
Today was the second race of the CYC Center Sound Series, (http://www.cycseattle.org/) The forecast was 14-18 knots from the south with a big ebb so a likely quick trip north to the turning mark and then a cold, wet beat back to the finish. Unfortunately for us, at the start, while raising the spinnaker, the sail went into the water. With the boat already going about 12 knots, the water made quick work of ripping the sail to shreds along with exploding the tackline block on the end of the bowsprit. We had a second spinnaker which we could have used but we did not have a spare tackline block. We tried to sail part of the run with just the main and jib but could not keep the boat planing enough to stay ahead of the 40' boats in our class. Without being able to build up a cushion on these boats for them to eat up on the beat back, we were pretty much relegated to being last. We also had two damaged stanchions on the starboard side. So the decision was made to turn around and head in. I really dislike dropping out of races but in this case it likely meant we saved inflicting further damage on ourselves.
As it was the damage list was:
Code 1 spinnaker- badly ripped, no idea if it can be fixed
Sprit end block- completely destroyed
Two stanchions- damaged but repairable.

We got all the lines back and I did not see any damage on them but should give them a more thorough looking at to be sure.
When we lost sight of Banshee (the other Melges 32) it looked like they were lead boat ahead of the boats that had started five minutes ahead.
Guessing the coming week will be a busy week of repairs.