April 12, 2026: April Fleet Race Report

Under the influence of a high-pressure system, the forecast called for a 2–3m southeast breeze. However, during the starting adjustments for the first race, the wind hovered around 1m with shifts of about 20 degrees. After waiting for the wind to settle, we finally got the start away at 11:45.

This time, the race committee duties were handled by Kotaro, who was operating the boat for only the second time since getting his license. I was on board to provide support. Ultimately, the wind began to die down during the first race, but we managed to make it a valid race by shortening the course.

Race Highlights
The winner was Mr. Naito, who maintained intense focus throughout the race, never letting the light air escape him despite the head tide.

In these conditions, the way you catch the tide changes with every tack; sometimes you feel like you're moving well through the water, but relative to the ground, you aren't advancing at all. The balance between wind pressure, the speed differential of the tide between the shore and offshore, and boat handling makes for a frustrating yet fascinating challenge.

Looking Ahead
Next month, Kotaro will be in charge of the committee again, this time running it entirely on his own. He seems a bit nervous about flying solo, but I’m sure he’ll be fine. In a very modern touch, whenever he's unsure about race management procedures, he just gives an AI a quick shout to find the answer—impressive stuff!

As for me, I have officially "graduated" from my life as a corporate employee. I’m currently soaking up a sense of happiness and an indescribable peace of mind, knowing that for the time being, the day after a fleet race is also a day off.

Now, I’ll be shifting my focus to checking my rigging and gear in preparation for next month’s race.

— Ta-