New Sailor, New Boats, Close Races, Courteous Power Boaters: August 20th Race Report:

Ben Cartwright joined us for the first time, captaining the Cartwright Thistle without a crew. Welcome Ben!  And Matt Bartlett sailed his just-acquired Laser for the first time, expanding the Laser fleet even further.  And while John Auld did not sail (but volunteered instead), he will be picking up his recently acquired Y-flyer this week. So he and Paul Hass will be back out on the race course.   Winds were light, but enough for two good races that were fairly close.  

Jim Riffle monitored the race course from his pontoon and reported that several boaters with swimmers in the water between race markers were receptive when he alerted them that they were about to be descended upon by sailors in tight races.  Without complaint they boarded their boats and moved outside of the race course.  We appreciate their courtesy!  And thanks Jim!

We are also grateful to John Auld, Cindy Bartlett, Bob Orben and Mimi Riffle for volunteering on the Committee Boat, and to Sherri Agnew for setting up the race course with assistance from Kevin Preuss.

Whether racing, officiating or setting up the course, "Believe me my young friend, there's nothing, absolutely nothing half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats" -from "The Wind in the Willows" by Kenneth Grahame

In the first race, newcomer Ben Cartwright arrived a bit late and as a first-timer needed a bit of instruction from the Committee Boat, so he "audited" the first race. Nevertheless he sailed the course and was second to cross the finish line, although his finish didn’t count for scoring purposes.  We were impressed that he was able to handle the Thistle so well solo, and hope to see him and the Cartwright family competing again soon.

Sailors: Just a reminder that if you need a crew, let us know during the week prior to the Sunday race and we will try to match you up with someone wanting to crew. Ditto to those without a boat wanting to crew for someone.

Sherri won the first race in her Butterfly

Sherri Agnew was first overall on a handicapped basis in the first race in her Butterfly, followed by Peggy Voelz in her Butterfly, so the Butterflies ruled!  Jim Voelz was close behind, and was first in the Laser Class by about a minute and a half.  The other three Lasers; Laura Garrett, Dianne Fisher, and Matt Bartlett, finished in that order, with the first finishing within 16 seconds of the last – very close indeed!   These three were even closer in the second race.

By the way,  we are aware of a one-owner Butterfly sailboat for sale.  This is a stable, easy-to-rig and easy-to-handle boat.  It can accommodate 2 people, but is sailed by one. See the "Port" column.

 In the second race on an overall handicapped basis, Jim Voelz in his Laser won by a bit over a minute and a half over Peggy Voelz in her Butterfly.  They were followed by the three Lasers in this order; Matt Bartlett, Dianne Fisher, and Laura Garrett, all within 10 seconds.   In the International Class Peggy Voelz was first followed by Sherri Agnew and Ben Cartwright.

Thanks to Arlene Truex for hosting the protest meeting at which the protest was discussed, but not decided since a number of our “officials” were traveling, or attending to others who were.  We’ll get a ruling at the next protest meeting.

Our next race, the “Labor Day Trophy Race” is not on Labor Day.  It is on Sunday, September 10^th. 

RACE RESULTS FIRST RACE

Laser Class:  Jim Voelz 1^st, Laura Garrett 2^nd, Dianne Fisher 3^rd, Matt Bartlett 4^th.

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

Overall results on handicapped basis (not for scoring purposes):  Sherri Agnew 1^st, Peggy Voelz 2^nd, Jim Voelz 3rd, Laura Garrett 4^th, Matt Bartlett 5^th, Dianne Fisher 6^th.  

RACE RESULTS SECOND RACE

Laser Class:  Jim Voelz 1^st, Matt Bartlett 2^nd, Dianne Fisher 3^rd, Laura Garrett 4^th.

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

Overall results on handicapped basis (not for scoring purposes):  Jim Voelz 1^st, Peggy Voelz 2^nd, Matt Bartlett 3rd, Dianne Fisher 4^th, Laura Garrett 5^th, Sherri Agnew 6^th, Ben Cartwright 7^th.

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.