We began our 2018 season with participation at “high tide”
- fourteen sailors in eleven boats and five volunteers on the Committee
Boat. More importantly we welcomed some
newcomers to the sailing community. The
race was a low-wind skills affair with a clever move that allowed several
sailors to accomplish a long sought after goal.
Welcome Phil Bush and Margaret Powers to the sailing
community! And we hope visiting
first-timer Jeff Cartwright (Tom’s son, Ben’s brother) is a frequent
participant as well. We were also
pleased to have visiting Norm, (Cindy Bartlett’s father), and a guest of
the Cartwrights on board for this race.
Jim Voelz set up the race earlier in the day when the wind
was decent. He made a wise call to eliminate one of the marks when the
situation changed by race time. Our well-staffed
Committee Boat included Beth Auld, Cindy Bartlett, Phil Bush, Margaret Powers
and Norm Woodman. Arlene Truex hosted us
for the protest meeting. And Kevin
Preuss and Beth Auld organized the race/committee boat. Thanks everyone!
Most races are won at the start as we learned from the GYC’s winningest sailor, Jim Voelz, at his racing clinic the day before. So there was a "crambitious" swarm at the
somewhat narrow starting line when the starting horn sounded. The Committee Boat did a nice job of
identifying two boats over the line before the horn sounded and notified the offending
skippers who had to start over. Tom Schroeder and Steve Willment in the JY-15 hoped to wait behind the starting line until just before the starting horn, then tightening their sails. But even without the sails trimmed their boat had momentum, and they had to turn away from the line to avoid a false start, which cost them precious time. Others were kept from “barging” (squeezing in
between a starting line buoy and another sailboat at the last second) with the
threat of a potential protest. What a
show for the Committee Boat volunteers, especially the first-timers!
The first leg of the race was upwind from the middle of the
lake headed due west. The wind was okay
for this leg. We rounded the mark and
headed straight back east toward a marker near the dam.
A very clever move by GYC veteran Tom Jennings
was reported by the genuinely impressed casualty, Jim Voelz.
Leading the fleet as usual and sailing side-by-side, Jim on
the left and Tom on the right, both would soon need to turn right to go around
the marker-flag.
Jim could not turn
until Tom did.
Tom waited until the very
last minute to turn.
He made it around
the marker flag without touching it, but it was too late for Jim.
Just a normal part of sailboat racing and very much expected and proper.
Jim had to make a 360 degree penalty turn for
touching the flag.
In doing so he fouled
Matt Bartlett by getting in his way and causing him to alter his course.
Matt could have protested which would have
required Jim make two more 360 degree penalty turns, but gave Jim a “by”.
In return, Jim offered Matt a liquid
refreshment to be redeemed at some future time.
The last leg of the race was straight west again,
in to a now non-existent wind. There we sat.
Motionless. For a long time. A very long time. Lance and Bianca, not far from the launching
ramp understandably shouted their regrets and paddled to their trailer lest the
afternoon race stretch into evening. And
the Cartwrights with an offer of a tow, bailed as well. Some time later a slight breeze surprised us,
coming from behind instead of from in front. The remaining fleet crept ever so slowly to
the finish line, with a few accomplishing the long sought after goal of
finishing before Jim Voelz. All courtesy
of an opportunity Tom Jennings was able to use to his advantage and win the
race.
We had a good turnout for the protest meeting in good
weather and enjoyed Arlene Truex’s patio and yard. Thanks again Arlene!
Race Results:
Laser Class: Tom
Jennings 1st, Matt Bartlett 2nd, Andy Jennings 3rd,
Laura Garrett 4th, Jim Voelz 5th, Dianne Fisher 6th,
Kevin Preuss 7th.
International Class:
Tom Schroeder/Steve Willment 1st, John Auld/Paul Hass 2nd.
Overall results on handicapped basis (not for scoring
purposes): Tom Jennings 1st, Matt
Bartlett 2nd, Andy Jennings 3rd, Laura Garrett 4th, Jim Voelz 5th, Dianne
Fisher 6th, Tom Schroeder/Steve Willment 7th, Kevin Preuss 8th,
John Auld/Paul Hass 9th.
Next Race AND SOCK BURNING:
June 3rd.
