Back in the fast lane: Team Lochaber and The Big Girl entered their first offshore race in August, joining a fleet of over 45 boats in the annual Clipper Cup run from Muskegon to Port Washington, Wis. Even with old sails and a small, semi-inexperienced crew, we did very well. Sustained winds from the southwest, starting a.m. at around 8 knots and rising to as much as 22k out in the middle of the lake early afternoon, had us whooshing along at over 9k at times. ... Until our old, cruising asymmetrical spinnaker (The Pony) blew out. We then hoisted our old "Banana" staysail and were cutter-rigged three-sheets to the wind for half of the race. Lochaber finished well in 9:33 hrs/min, ahead of many boats, including some of the Spinnaker Class craft that started after us and were supposed to catch and pass us. Former owner/skipper and race veteran (many, many Macs, including several at the helm of our T41) Mike Jones joined us as honorary Skipper Emeritus. What a run; and the overnight night cruise back at 5-6k --- under the moon and stars and, at dawn, into the sun rise --- was an amazing ride.
