MAY 17th OPENING RACE REPORT - A Gracious Visitor From the South

(photos courtesy of Bob and Tricia Zachidny)
A bald eagle was out greeting sailors and volunteers to a day of  near-perfect sailing wind and pleasant temperatures despite the healthy chance of rain that never materialized. 
   

Heading toward the first mark

We had a well-staffed Committee Boat with volunteers well prepared having attended our refresher course the day prior.  Bob Orben, Jim Riffle and Tricia and Bob Zachidny did a fine job of officiating.  They even re-arranged the course to their liking upon arriving at the starting line!  And their anchoring skills were exquisite.  We even had our own safety boat piloted by Steve Tadd and his son since the GLOA safety boat was not yet operating and concerns about capsized sailors in colder than normal water early in the season.  Tom Jennings set up the course with help from Sherri Agnew who has now “learned the ropes”.  Thanks to everyone who helped make the race possible.

This first race of the season was earlier than normal, finding many of the boats in our fleet not ship-shape enough to sail (tsk, tsk, tsk) and many of our sailors out of town.  Thus just three sailboats and four sailors initiated the season.  But oh, what a wind!  It was from the south, sufficiently lively and brisk for some great hiking out, and not as shifty or gusty as usual.   Appropriate for this wonderful wind, Tom Jennings and Sherri Agnew set a very long course that went well into the large inlet northwest of the Dam into which the wind was being funneled and concentrated. This made for fast sailing indeed.

The first race had a nice close start between Tom Jennings in his Laser and Tom Schroeder and crew Paul Hass in the JY-15.  Riley Leonard got caught in some dead air on the long trek from his dock , just missed the start, and got caught “in irons” near the first mark for long enough that he decided to wait for the 2^nd race instead.  Jennings and Schroeder/Hass were very close for most of the race with Jennings never really giving up the lead, although their courses varied quite a bit.  As they approached the finish line, and just a little behind, Schroeder took a chance but got too far from the rhumb line hoping to avoid tacking one final time.  This proved to be a bad move and Jennings finished over a minute ahead even though they were much closer for most of the race.

The second race also had a great start with all three boats quite close to the line when the starting horn blew.  Downwind (“leeward”) of Jennings and about to miss staying inside of the starting pole, Schroeder asked for room and Jennings yielded.  Did Jennings have to yield, or was he just giving Tom and Paul a break? Both had wind coming from starboard and were overlapped. Post your opinion with a "comment" below!  By this time, captain Schroeder, was beginning to see what a fine crew Y-Flyer captain John Auld has in Paul Hass and took Paul's suggestions on timing his turns as they approached the first mark.  Schroeder/Hass rounded the first mark ahead of Jennings and Leonard.  But Jennings was able to overtake them as they ran with the wind to the 2^nd mark.  Riley was catching up with both Jennings and Schroeder/Hass.  All of them were moving fast from the 2^nd to the 3^rd mark.    After rounding the third mark and heading into the wind for the finish line, Schroeder/Hass and Jennings were extremely close.  On a port tack running parallel to each other with Jennings windward, Schroeder again took Paul Hass’ suggestion on timing, tacking and cutting in behind Jennings. A fraction of a second later Jennings also turned, but got hung up in the turn somehow, which allowed Schroeder/Hass to finish first.  Jennings finished 2^nd, and Riley was close behind with all boats finishing within about a minute and a half of each other – a close race – and fun courtesy of the fine wind!

Hass became celebratory after the first place finish in the second race and high-fived Schroeder.  The wind did not punish Schroeder/Hass with the usual capsizing for succumbing to "high five syndrome".  This spared Steve Tadd and son from having to pluck them out of the water.  This was clearly not our normal devilish Grandview wind, but a visitor.  It was a fast, but genteel and gracious wind with manners and a southern accent ( no twang).   

First Race Results:  Tom Jennings 1^st place in Laser class and Schroeder/Hass 1^st place in the International Class.  On a handicapped basis since Lasers and JY-15 have almost same handicap factor Jennings came in 1st and Schroeder/Hass 2nd.

Second Race Results:  Tom Jennings 1^st place in Laser Class and Riley Leonard 2^nd Place.  Schroeder/Hass 1^st place in International Class.  Overall on handicapped basis: Schroeder/Hass first, Jennings 2^nd, Leonard 3^rd.

There was no protest meeting.  We look forward to the first protest meeting of the year after the next race on May 31^st.  In the meantime, see you at the Memorial Day Breakfast.

Thanks again to our volunteers mentioned above!

Those sailing or observing the race are welcome to add their version of any aspect of the race using the comment feature below.