The annual 2023 PRSA Spring Regatta this year was a great success for the Albacore class. The regatta brought two days of racing from May 27 to the 28 on the Potomac River. Shifty, puffy conditions with sunny and cloudy skies made racing conditions challenging. The breeze ranged from 7 to 17 knots. The Albacore sailors showed up in force by being the largest fleet with 13 boats competing in the regatta.
The racing was fierce and competitive, with each boat jockeying for position to be where the wind pressure was. At times wind pressure was lacking on the olympic race course which made some reach legs difficult. Boats able to find and stay in wind pressure were able to break away from the pact. The wind conditions made picking the favorable side of the course difficult. For both days the right side of the course upwind seemed to be the better side. Boats repeatedly made the most gains upwind from the right. Downwinds legs saw many boats change positions throughout the weekend with the left side of the course downwind often being favored.
Congratulations to Barney Harris and Farley Will in AL 8261 for winning the event, which doubled as the MidAtlantics Championship. Second place went to Marty Hublitz and Ernest Ayukawa in AL 8214. Third place went to Stephen Duncan and Kate VanPortfliet in AL 8199.