AUGUST 2ND RACE - WELCOME TO THE HOTEL CALIFORNIA !

We benefitted from yet another day of decent wind and a good turnout of fourteen sailors and four Committee Boat volunteers, and some very close finishing times – quite exciting.  Sailors were anxious to get back on the race course after the July 19 race was cancelled due to rain/heat/lack of wind.  We are grateful to those who were lined up to volunteer that day including to Beth Auld, Donna Mount, Bob Orben, Mimi Riffle, Riley Leonard and Lance Snider.    And we are grateful to John Gall who interrupted rigging of his boat to answer the call of another sailor, whereupon he put that sailor on a northeasterly heading on land without delay, an important maneuver.  You have to attend protest meetings to learn about such things.  Thanks to Wayne and Arlene Truex for hosting that protest meeting after the non-race.

But wait, you are here to read about the August 2^nd race:  Well, we were pleased to welcome back Steve Willment in his first race this year, crewing for Steve Tadd in the wooden Thistle.  Tom Jennings and Catey and Graham Hale returned after hiatuses of several races, and are no longer candidates for the ghost sailor trophy (if you are a candidate for the ghost sailor trophy, there are several races left to join us and avoid the "void" of this trophy).

Tom Jennings parked his Laser at the Mullinix’ s dock (thanks!) after he talked Tom Schroeder into letting him race the JY-15, with Schroeder as crew (it’s not too late to sign up for the quantity discount).  During his couple of month sabbatical, Jennings took it upon himself to re-engineer our heavy starting line pole buoy with a much lighter version that made its debut, and worked out quite well, making it easier to set up and take down the race course from now on – Thanks Tom!  

We had a well-staffed Committee Boat with volunteers who did a fine job, especially considering the amount of bouncing around from the heavy traffic.  Thanks Tricia and Bob Zachidny, Mimi Riffle, and Donna Mount!   Catey Hale set up the course with help from race organizer Kevin Preuss, and Catey and Doug Hale took the course down, and a fine course it was – Thanks everyone!
 

We had plenty of wind most of the time, except in certain black holes on the course where magically there was no wind, and once inside, you felt you were in the “Hotel California”, once you check in, you cannot check out (if you prefer a multimedia experience you can start the "Hotel California" music in a new window by clicking here, but don't forget to come back to this window while you listen).   Just ask Catey and Graham Hale and the “Toms” - Jennings and Schroeder.   Approaching the finish line in the first race, both captains made the mistake of getting too far east of the Committee Boat and found themselves stuck.  Particularly the “Toms” who,  only a few feet from the finish line, found it took painful, agonizing ages to finally cross it (more revenge from the Grandview wind for gleeful, disparaging personifications made of it during its Tasmanian vacation early in the season).  

While that may have been the worst black hole on the lake,  there were other areas which had similar effects on our sailors.  Those who avoided the bad spots did well.  Tom Jennings learned all the bad spots in the first race and avoided them all in the second race, winning his class despite the presence of his wind-targeted crew.   Interestingly some weren’t paying attention to the misfortune of the other sailors in the first race and repeated those sailor’s mistakes in the second race.  For instance, the “Toms” started the first race close to the Committee Boat side of the starting line and stayed on the north side of the rhumb line (imaginary direct line from middle of starting line to the first mark) and they were punished by lack of wind.  The rest of the fleet, sailing the south side of the rhumb line must not have noticed their misfortune because many of them switched to the north side in the second race and were similarly punished.  Same thing with the course from the 2^nd mark to the 3^rd mark, and 3^rd mark to the finish line;  If you stayed to the west side of that rhumb line you’re fine, if not “You’re mine” says the devilish Grandview wind, and “Welcome to the Hotel California!”.

Yes, we are adding Hotel California to the “Club Videos and Songs” list of links toward the bottom of the Port column.  And if you haven’t visited that section yet, make sure to click on the link with the video reminding us of Jim Riffle and Joe Prosser on the Hobie catamaran years ago. The size of waves we had to weather on Sunday make it appropriate.  Oh heck, that video is such a classic we will put the link right here. (again, it will open up in a new window - after you watch it, close that window to come back here).

In the first race Jim Voelz, who has an uncanny ability to read the wind, of particular importance this race day, finished far head of all but Catey and Graham Hale in terms of actual elapsed time.  On a handicapped basis,  Jim was farther ahead of everyone.  On a handicapped basis, wow!  The Butterfly sailors, Laura, Sherri, and Peggy (in that order) came in right behind Catey/Graham.  And those four boats finished within 36 handicapped seconds of one and other.  The next closest finisher on a handicapped basis was the Thistle – Steve Tadd/Steve Willment one handicapped minute behind.  The Butterflies are roiling the waters!

The second race had a similar result.  Jim Voelz prevailed.  But Riley Leonard, also in a Laser, seemed tied with a bowline to Jim, and the final leg looked really close between the two of them.  But Jim pulled ahead and beat Riley by about thirty seconds.  Again though, the next boats on a handicapped basis were two of the three Butterflies, Sherri and Peggy in that order and only about half a minute apart.   And although the “Toms” finished fifth on a handicapped basis, Laura Garrett in her Butterfly was only 9 seconds behind them.  So the Butterflies had another strong showing, and the three of them again finished very close to one and other, a very competitive class!

We did have some potential protests that were not filed and are fodder for our fun discussions at protest meetings:  How much room is enough room when allowing “room at the mark”?   "The answer my friend, is blowing in the wind…. ". Another club song?  Also, note that after you touch a mark you need to do your penalty turn at the earliest opportunity after you can get clear of other boats.  And, just by observation, if you have the right of way, and have to alter your course to avoid another boat, go ahead and declare a protest!  We need more protests.

We had a great time at the Protest Meeting and got to visit with the Truex’s son Mike and his family including our much anticipated annual visit with their daughter Mayra.  Donna Mount prepared one of her specialties from a "Gourmet Committee Boat" feast of several races ago.  Oh yeah, I think that same team is volunteering for the next race.  Hmmm…wonder what the menu will be.  Thanks Wayne and Arlene for hosting the meeting!

Sailors, volunteers, and other race observers are encouraged to add their version of these events and to, correct, comment or otherwise add some salt to this report by using the comment feature below.  After all this report came from only one very biased vantage point in the race, and yours might have been better!

First Race Results: 

Laser Class:  Jim Voelz 1^st Place, Kevin Preuss 2^nd, Riley Leonard 3^rd.

Butterfly Class: Laura Garrett 1st Place, Sherri Agnew 2^nd, Peggy Voelz 3^rd.

International Class (on handicapped basis): Catey/Graham Hale 1^st Place, Steve Tadd/Steve Willment 2^nd,  Tom Jennings/Tom Schroeder 3^rd,  Jim Riffle/Arlene Truex 4th

Overall on Handicapped Basis (not for scoring): Jim Voelz 1^st, Catey/Graham Hale 2^nd, Laura Garrett 3^rd, Sherri Agnew 4^th, Peggy Voelz 5^th, Steve Tadd/Steve Willment 6^th, Kevin Preuss 7^th, Riley Leonard 8^th, Tom Jennings/Tom Schroeder 9^th, Jim Riffle/Arlene Truex 10^th.

Second Race Results: 

Laser Class:  Jim Voelz 1^st, Riley Leonard 2^nd, Kevin Preuss 3rd

Butterfly Class: Sherri Agnew 1^st Place, Peggy Voelz 2^nd, Laura Garrett 3^rd

International Class (on handicapped basis):  Tom Jennings/Tom Schroeder 1^st, Steve Tadd/Steve Willment 2^nd, Jim Riffle/Arlene Truex 3^rd

Overall on Handicapped Basis (not for scoring): Jim Voelz 1^st , Riley Leonard 2^nd , Sherri Agnew 3rd, Peggy Voelz 4th, Tom Schroeder/Tom Jennings 5^th, Laura Garrett 6^th, Kevin Preuss 7^th,  Steve Tadd/Steve Willment 8th,  Jim Riffle/Arlene Truex 9th.