Ishtar has a tendency to take the middle of the summer off and go cruising. We did exactly that, cruising for 9 days over the 4th of July to the San Juans. Even with the dacron main from the 80s and an old number two, loaded down with provisions for a family of 4 and a large lab, Ishtar hauls the mail. We had a great sail up, carried the 1.5oz kite through Cattle Pass jibing back and forth between the rocks bucking tide, with Talia doing a bit of the driving. (not a bad helmsgirl, at 4) Then had head to head racing with a Freedom 36 (same handicap) and a Cal 30--Eli's boat every day, just to keep us sharp. Race results? Well, it hurts Eli and Tom to admit it but Ishtar was undefeated although Pegasus, the Freedom was a handful if the wind was up and we were reaching. Upwind, in the islands, I like Ishtar's chances. Really looking forward to the Northern Century as it will show us if our crew work lately will pay off in the longer races.
Ishtar is off again in the islands this week, as Brandon and Anh are taking their turn. Too bad they had to choose Whidbey Island Race Week, but they couldn't get their friend to change their wedding date for us so I guess we are stuck.
