LASER-MANIA! June 26th Race Report

Photos courtesy of Jack and Sandi Miller

We are delighted to welcome a new captain, Steve Willment to the sailor ranks, and have his Grandview-pedigreed Laser back in the active fleet.  We were also fortunate to have John Gall home for a visit sailing his Laser. And our “limbo star” Andy Jennings (see the “Limbo Collection” of photos with music way down in the starboard column) also joined us in his Laser and helped Tom Jennings set up the course (thanks guys).  Along with our regular Laser sailors that made seven Lasers in all,  joining the other five sailboats for a total of twelve boats on a hot day with a decent wind.   By the way we have a sailor looking to buy a Laser in case you know of one for sale.

From a culinary standpoint, Committee Boat volunteers Sandi Miller, Steve and Gretchen Fisher, Donna Mount and Mimi Riffle enjoyed fruit skewers, ham and cheese on Hawaiian bread, baked pasta salad and brownies spread out on checkered table cloths with matching napkins and a bouquet of fresh flowers. 

And oh yeah, they did a fine job of officiating the race also.  Jim Riffle exercised great discipline not joining in the feast and instead manning the "safety boat".  I sure hope they gave him a plate of food to enjoy.  They did toss Steve Willment a brownie, which he caught as he passed the finish line.   We understand that had there been a third race they would have run out of ….other provisions. Thanks to our volunteers!   Thanks also to Chris Braun and Kevin Preuss who sped out to adjust the starting line markers prior to the race after a bit of drifting of the buoys occurred.  Thanks also to good Samaritan, Clint Garrett.  He was cheering wife Laura and found himself in the right place at the right time to jump in and right Arlene Truex’s capsized boat.

The starting line tortured the usual convention of starting on a starboard tack (wind coming over starboard side of boat) , which gives you the right of way over those on a port tack. But a starboard tack allowed barely more than running parallel to the starting line before your sails luffed  (lose wind because pointing toward the wind).   And the route to the first mark, and from the last mark to the finish line favored a port tack for as far as you could go before getting too far from the rhumb line (imaginary line from the starting line to the first mark). 

In the first race Tom Jennings started on a starboard tack, but once across the starting line favored the port tack as far as he could take it on the way to the first mark. 

Tom Jennings, 2nd from left is on a starboard tack with the right of way over all the other boats in this picture.  He quickly tacked to port and got ahead of all of these boats.

This gave him a lead on the entire fleet as well has his closest competitor, Jim Voelz, who found himself too far to the port side of Tom and getting less wind. Tom never gave up the lead.  

On the way to the 1st mark in 1st race

In the second race Tom led everyone again all the way to the last mark.  This despite having to make two 360 degree penalty turns after failing to yield the right of way to Jim resulting in contact between the two Lasers. Tom overtook Jim again, and led until the last leg when Jim Voelz was able to overtake him and finish first.  And there was a close finish between Andy Jennings and Laura Garrett, with Andy 5 seconds ahead of Laura for 3^rd place among the Lasers in the first race.  They battled it out for 3rd and 4th again in the second race but Andy came out ahead again. On a handicapped basis Peggy Voelz had a strong showing particularly in the first race finishing 3rd overall.  On a handicapped basis that pushed Andy and Laura to 4^th and 5^th in the first race.

You are on the Committee Boat right now, looking right down the starting line as the starting horn is blown.  Sorry you are not enjoying some of their delicious lunch though. How is that for a close start?  That is Peggy Voelz, 1st over the line on the far right in the background.   Laura Garrett is in the foreground.  The Committee Boat provides the best place on the lake to watch the race.

2nd race heading toward 1st mark

All boats barely squeezed into the frame

There was some contact between boats out there, but no protests to settle at the very enjoyable protest meeting that featured shade, a nice breeze, good food (with a kick!) and fun company at the Truexes’.   Thanks Wayne and Arlene! 

Race Results 1^st Race:

Laser Class: 1^st  Tom Jennings, 2^nd Jim Voelz, 3^rd Andy Jennings, 4^th Laura Garrett, 5^th John Gall, 6^th Kevin Preuss, 7^th Steve Willment.

Butterfly Class: 1^st Peggy Voelz, 2^nd Sherri Agnew

International Class: 1^st Tom Schroeder/Matt Bartlett, 2^nd John Auld/Paul Hass

Overall on a handicapped basis (not for scoring):

1^st Tom Jennings, 2^nd Jim Voelz, 3^rd Peggy Voelz, 4^th Andy Jennings, 5^th Laura Garrett, 6^th Schroeder/Bartlett, 7^th John Gall, 8^th Auld/Hass, 9^th Kevin Preuss, 10^th Sherri Agnew, 11^th Steve Willment.

Race Results 2nd Race:

Laser Class: 1^st  Jim Voelz, 2^nd Tom Jennings, 3^rd Andy Jennings, 4^th Laura Garrett, 5^th Kevin Preuss, 6^th John Gall, 7^th Steve Willment

Butterfly Class: 1^st Peggy Voelz, 2^nd Sherri Agnew

International Class: 1^st Tom Schroeder/Matt Bartlett, 2^nd John Auld/Paul Hass

Overall on a handicapped basis (not for scoring):

1^st Jim Voelz 2^nd Tom Jennings , 3^rd Andy Jennings, 4^th Laura Garrett, 5^th Peggy Voelz,  6^th Schroeder/Bartlett, 7^th Kevin Preuss,  8^th John Gall, 9^th Auld/Hass, 10^th Steve Willment, 11^th Sherri Agnew.

Our next race is July 10th.  Come join us!