SEPTEMBER 1ST RACE REPORT

During our Labor Day weekend race, a new sailor from a developing racing dynasty was welcomed to the club, a new grandchild from a long-time racing dynasty was being born during the race, and we were visited by limbo star, and ace Laser class sailor, Andy Jennings.  Also during the race an attitude adjustment was administered, and snarling problem was solved.

Andy demonstrates how to go under limbo stick in world-class fashion

First we would like to welcome Erin Gall, Jackson Gall’s new bride to the Grandview sailing community.  She sailed with Jackson in her first race and we are delighted to have her join us.   They did well in the 2nd race!  And Jim Voelz appeared for the race in his powerboat instead of his sailboat so he could stay closely tuned to his mobile phone for a call from wife Peggy since birth of their second grandchild to daughter Mary and her husband was imminent.  REALLY imminent!  As we swarmed around the starting line before the race Jim shouted that Mary was in labor and he would wave one noodle if it was a boy and two noodles if it was a girl.  A birth announcement using noodle-net!

With no wind while we waited for the start of the race, it looked like there might be a cancellation.  Then, just in time for the race the wind showed up, albeit from the south instead of the west per earlier conditions. This wind was no stranger.  It is the same wind that been hanging around all season, torturing those that don’t make it through the first mark fast enough, and rewarding those that do.  It chose to play this dirty trick again in the second race. Since it was a holiday weekend, we kept the course in the middle of the main lake, away from the skiing and tubing routes.  Nevertheless, the Committee Boat got quite a rocking.  We are very grateful to our Committee Boat volunteers Beth Auld, Susan Egbert, Deb Hendrick, Emily McCurdy and Mimi Riffle.  Also, thanks to Jim Riffle for setting up the course with assistance from Tom Schroeder, and for taking down the course with assistance from Kevin Preuss.

Are you ready for this week’s nautical terms lesson?  Due to winds from the south we had a straight shot to the first mark on a beam reach (wind coming over the side of the boat), with only about a 50/50 chance of having to tack (changing direction such that wind is coming over the opposite side of the boat) near the first mark depending on wind shifts.  Normally you try to start the race with the wind over your starboard (right) side (a starboard tack) because that gives you the right of way so you don’t have to bob and weave (perform evasive maneuvers) around the other boats.  But this race favored a start with the wind over the port side (a port tack).  Those that tried a starboard tack, tacked just as soon as they got over the line but this strategy put you downwind of the rest of the sailors which turned out to be the slowest approach to the first mark. 

Not much to report on about the first race since the wind was saving its torture for the next race, but here are the results of this the "Trophy Race":

Laser Class:  Tom Jennings 1st, Andy Jennings 2nd, Kevin Preuss 3rd.
International Class (on handicapped basis):  Tom Schroeder/Catey Hale 1st, Jim Riffle/Arlene Truex 2nd, John Auld/Bob Zachidny 3rd, Laura Garrett 4th, Jack Gall/Erin Gall 5th.
If the Lasers were also handicapped:  The Lasers would have been 1st, 2nd and 3rd as shown above, followed by the International Class in the order shown.
 
Between the first and second race many “Baby yet?” shouts were directed to Jim Voelz to which he replied “Still Pushing!” (not a nautical phrase).

During the second race, Catey Hale/Tom Schroeder in the JY-15 started on a port tack and were upwind and well ahead of all but Tom Jennings, but had to tack once in order to get to the first mark.  Now on a starboard tack and enjoying the right of way near the first mark, they encountered John Auld/Bob Zachidny in a Y-Flyer, who had to yield and bear off (turn away from their previous course) which cost them a few critical seconds.  During those few seconds Hale/Schroeder made it around the mark before a wind shift hit Auld/Zachidny, causing them to touch the mark, do the required 360 degree penalty turn, and find themselves with no wind.  Andy Jennings also found himself touching the mark and doing a 360 as well.  Meanwhile about half of the other boats got by the first mark and enjoyed a favorable wind.  But those delayed at the mark found themselves without much wind for the rest of the race finishing way, way, way behind the first pack.  Andy Jennings, just about to cross the finish line, even found himself being pushed backward in a light wind shift.   We were pleased to have Andy join us and give the Lasers more competition in this race.

You may remember from the August 18th race report that attitude and race results go hand-in-hand.  In that race, John Auld and Catey Hale won International Class with a determined attitude as shown below.

Tom Schroeder’s JY-15 didn’t do so well, and the photo below speaks for itself in terms of “attitude”.

So for this race, hoping to reform and do better, Tom recruited Catey Hale to sail with him.   Tom captained the first race.  Against Catey’s better judgment, he tried the start on a starboard tack.  And, having the right of way, thought maybe he would mess with those on port tack before coming about (a synonym for “tack” - changing direction such that wind is coming over the opposite side of the boat – used here instead of “tack” because using the word “tack” too many times within two consecutive sentences would be….. tacky) and getting on a port tack himself. But Catey convinced him this wasn’t a way to win friends, influence people, or win races, so he relented and turned to a port tack after crossing the starting line. But that put them downwind of the others, and they had to sail with dirty air (air that has been made turbulent after going through the sails of another sailboat) making them slower.  Nevertheless although not beating any of the Lasers, the JY-15’s captain, sporting a different attitude and benefiting from some good coaching,  ended up coming in first in the International class.   

For the second race Catey took the helm (you learned that term in the Aug 18^th race report, did you not?) and demonstrated good judgment by starting on a port tack.  The Committee Boat was only about 10 feet away, and the five women on board gave Tom a bit of ribbing during the start which was met with a good natured, but snarling response that we had heard enough from the Committee Boat.  And Jim Riffle had the Committee Boat volunteers a bit concerned when he appeared to be playing chicken with them at the start. With Catey at the helm the JY-15 again sailed to a first place finish in the International class.  This is the best it’s done in many years, finishing behind only Tom Jennings who is in the Laser class.  In addition to learning some valuable sailing tips from Catey, Tom was delighted that he doesn’t have to buy a new boat – The JY-15 can win, provided the captain has the right attitude, and gets to the first mark before the wind stops. And speaking of attitude, Hale/Schroeder could have, should have, easily succumbed to “high five syndrome”, but didn’t.  And this year’s demonic wind was there waiting, surely thinking they would.  It will have to wait for the next sailing season.

And regarding snarling:  Snarling has been a real problem for the Committee Boat this year.   It was getting concerning. Morale was being compromised, and Mimi Riffle reported that something had to be done.  After all, if there is too much snarling, the Committee Boat volunteers can get discouraged.  Well, we’ve taken some action that appears to keep the snarling at bay.  Maybe you have experienced a snarling problem also, and it may be getting you down.  We want to share our way of dealing with it.  Maybe it will work for you as well and make your life a little better.  Here is what you do:  Go buy one of those orange traffic safety cones at Lowes.  Put it in the bottom of a five gallon bucket (you may have to cut the square corners off the base of the cone so that it will fit).  Now, when you haul up your anchor line, feed the line around and around the cone.  The next time you go to drop anchor; your anchor line will feed out smoothly without snarling!  Snarling problem solved!

 Here are the results of the 2nd race, followed by baby news, etc.
Laser Class: Tom Jennings 1st, Kevin Preuss 2nd, Andy Jennings 3rd.
International Class on handicapped basis:  Catey Hale/Tom Schroeder 1st, Jack Gall/Erin Gall 2nd, Jim Riffle/Arlene Truex 3rd, Laura Garret 4th, John Auld, Bob Zachidny 5th.
If the Lasers were also handicapped (not so straighforward in this race):  Tom Jennings 1st, Catey Hale/Tom Schroeder 2nd, Jack Gall/Erin Gall 3rd, Jim Riffle/Arlene Truex 4th, Kevin Preuss 5th, Laura Garrett 6th, John Auld/Bob Zachidny 7th, Andy Jennings 8th.

Like the sailors between races you are probably wondering about the baby being born.  Well, just a few minutes after the end of the second race, as the fleet was headed toward their docks, Jim Voelz received the call from Peggy and was seen waving two noodles.  It’s a girl! And we hear from the Voelzs that everyone is doing great.  It was great fun for the Grandview sailors to anticipate her arrival during the sailing race (especially the baby’s Aunt Laura who was racing with us).  Congratulations!

After the race, the main sail on the Hobie catamaran could not be lowered due to a problem with the pulley.  So a major operation occurred dockside at the Truex’s, as it often does. Thanks to Jackson Gall, Jim Riffle, Kevin Preuss and Wayne Truex for all the hard work, just prior to composing themselves for the protest meeting.

The size of the group attending the protest meeting was ground-level worthy again.  Some legendary stories were told, but you have to be there to hear them.  So come sail or volunteer with us next year!   Thanks to Wayne and Arlene for hosting after each race this year!