Racing mode activated
A liveaboard cruising couple hits the race course in scenic and fun regatta and finds a new reason to love their boat
![](https://sailingmagazine.net/images/Banderas1_0624.5477.jpg)
But we loved the idea of getting Avocet out on the race course amongst our cruising brethren, with a crew of our friends. The extra crew not only amped up the fun, it also allowed me to restow the errant belonging that attempted to hurl itself across the cabin and keep an eye on our ship’s cat Cleo, who was used to a much more leisurely kind of sailing. My husband Chris, on the other hand, was eager to push Avocet to her limits and prove that our boat was less couch and more capable cruiser-racer.
“Three … two … one,” the radio squawked.
![](https://sailingmagazine.net/images/Banderas6_0624.5480.jpg)
With each race, our crew grew more confident, pushing Avocet to her limits while reveling in the thrill of friendly competition. Despite facing faster boats and unforeseen challenges, including a dramatic collision between two other competitors, Avocet continued to defy expectations, ultimately clinching a second place overall.
As we reveled in our success at the post-race party, we realized how grateful we were to have stepped a little bit out of our comfort zone to race. We had a great time with our friends who were bitten by the racing bug as well as our fellow competitors, who we swapped race stories with after racing. There was great camaraderie and a change of pace from our cruising lifestyle.
![](https://sailingmagazine.net/images/Banderas2_0624.5478.jpg)
We were hoping we’d run into the guy on the dock who we’d seen before the regatta. We couldn’t wait to tell him how our “couch” did in the regatta.
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