Die-Hards Get a Dry Race "Window" and Good Winds: August 6th Race Report

It was a drizzly Sunday and the radar and wind forecasts were not very promising.  With that and some leaky boats in the fleet, participation was so-so with seven die-hard sailors.  The die-hards were rewarded. The race was dry and the winds were good so we had two close races before the drizzle returned.

Thanks to Kevin Preuss for not making the easier choice of cancelling the race, and to Steve Willment for setting up the race with Kevin’s assistance.  Thanks also to our fine Committee Boat volunteers, Jack and Sandi Miller, Gretchen Fisher and Susan Egbert.  Susan filled in for Steve Fisher.  Steve’s anchor tossing and lifting skills were missed by this team who have now run three races this year.  We are very grateful.  Jim and Mimi Riffle watched from their pontoon boat, ready to help out in any way.  And we also appreciate their taking in the marks at the end of the race!  The protest meeting wrapped up a little early prompted by some rain.  We swapped stories about drop-offs for the first year of college.  Thanks to Arlene Truex for hosting us.

Our starts were excellent with no laggards crossing the starting line. In the second race start, Tom Schroeder gambled by tacking immediately after crossing the line while the other five boats stayed on a starboard tack.  The gamble paid off and he was way ahead of the fleet until he took another gamble.  After rounding the second mark, he headed for the center of the lake in search of better wind en route to the third mark than experienced on the more conventional route in the first race.  This gamble was a bad choice though, and the four Lasers beat him by a wide margin to the third mark.  Those Lasers stayed practically on top of each other for most of the race with only the differences coming during the final leg.  There was only a one-minute difference among the four Lasers in the 22 minute race.

In the first race Jim Voelz and Laura Garret were first and second among the Lasers and also overall on a handicapped basis.  Peggy Voelz and Sherri Agnew were first and second in the International Class.

In the second race Jim Voelz and Laura Garret were again first and second among the Lasers and also overall on a handicapped basis.  Peggy Voelz and Tom Schroeder were first and second in the International Class.

Complete results are as follows:

RACE RESULTS FIRST RACE

Laser Class:  Jim Voelz 1^st, Laura Garrett 2^nd, Tom Jennings 3^rd, Kevin Preuss 4^th.

International Class:  Peggy Voelz 1^st, Sherri Agnew 2^nd, Tom Schroeder 3^rd.

Overall results on handicapped basis (not for scoring purposes):  Jim Voelz 1^st, Laura Garrett 2^nd, Peggy Voelz 3rd, Tom Jennings 4^th, Sherri Agnew 5^th, Tom Schroeder 6^th, Kevin Preuss 7^th.

RACE RESULTS SECOND RACE

Laser Class:  Jim Voelz 1^st, Laura Garrett 2^nd, Kevin Preuss 3^rd, Tom Jennings 4^th.

International Class:  Peggy Voelz 1^st, Tom Schroeder 2^nd, Sherri Agnew 3^rd.

Overall results on handicapped basis (not for scoring purposes):  Jim Voelz 1^st, Laura Garrett 2^nd, Kevin Preuss 3rd, Peggy Voelz 4^th, Tom Jennings 5^th, Tom Schroeder 6^th, Sherri Agnew 7^th.

Our next race is Sunday, August 20^th.