Sail boats get decked out in pink for Pink Boat Regatta, breast cancer
At noon on Sunday, Sept. 9 the Pink Boat Regatta was underway with 45 boats brandishing their brightest pink. Conditions were almost too good with the sun emerging sporadically from overcast skies and wind speeds gusting up to twenty-five knots.
Some boats had to “reef the main sail,” a term used to describe when a crew lowers the sail partway to minimize it’s size as wind speed increases. A “reefed” sail prevents too much heeling of the boat and reduces the risk of capsizing.
The regatta was a four mark course called a “windward leeward” course, meaning it was like a running track going upwind the wind and directly downwind with buoys for markers. The race consisted of a fixed three hour time period where boats gained points for rounding designated markers. The more buoys rounded the more points gained. Teams could also gain points through donations from spectators and crewmembers. Some boats had accumulated twenty to thirty buoys before they even started the race, with each buoy costing one hundred dollars. Donations were received online and at the Coranthian Yacht Club during the race.
