WHEN THE SKIES CLEARED A RACE BROKE OUT: June 23rd Race Report

Photos by Lisa Duret

The perpetual rain cleared for just enough time (but no more) for nine sailors and nine volunteers to enjoy a couple of hours of sunny regatta-related fun with excellent winds.   The races were very close, and the feast on the Committee Boat first class.   We welcomed back Sarah Cartwright & Arlene Truex who crewed for the first time this year.

The Committee Boat crew is prepared to start the race.  Then they'll feast.

The gourmet team of Jack & Sandi Miller, Steve & Gretchen Fisher and Harry & Sandy Meshberger along with Cindy Bartlett dined with flowers on the table and a menu of chicken and egg salad (which came first?), cheese & fruit, crackers & beer cheese, and muffins for desert. Meanwhile Jim Riffle and Lisa Duret fasted on the safety boat, and Bob Orben observed strategies from “At Last”.  Beth Auld saw to it we had volunteers, Kevin Preuss organized the race and assisted Matt Bartlett in setting up an excellent course.  Thanks to all for making the race possible!

Bob motors over to observe the action at the 2nd mark

The race starts were near simultaneous with only laggard Schroeder, not quite timing it right in the first race, but not making the same mistake in the 2^nd.  Eager-beavers Cartwright and Auld crossed the line before the starting horn in the 2^nd race and had to re-start (“the first shall be last”).  Later, Cartwrights’ speedy Thistle crossed the finish line first even though they started last (“the last shall be first”). Got that?

The field converges on the 1st mark

Brand new sails may have done the trick for Kevin Preuss coming in 1^st in the Laser class in the 1st race.  Jim Voelz took first in the 2^nd race.

Handicaps mucked up the official finish order of the International class versus what was observed on the water.  On a handicapped basis John Auld/Phil Bush finished 1^st in the 1^st race and Tom & Sarah Cartwright finished 1^st in the 2^nd race.

Cartwrights in the Thistle

Auld and Bush in the Y-Flyer

Tom and Arlene in the JY-15

All of the races were close with about a 2 minute difference in the first vs. last to cross the finish line, and few cases of split second differences in the two, twenty minute races.

A pop-up thunderstorm threatened sailors returning to their docks, but fortunately sails were down when the strong winds blew through. That also put the kibosh on our usual outdoor protest meeting.

RACE RESULTS:

First Race:

Laser Class:  Kevin Preuss 1^st, Jim Voelz 2^nd, Matt Bartlett 3^rd

International Class: John Auld/Phil Bush 1^st, Tom Schroeder/Arlene Truex 2^nd,  Tom Cartwright/Sarah Cartwright 3^rd.

Overall on Handicapped Basis (not for scoring):  Kevin Preuss 1st, Jim Voelz 2nd, Matt Bartlett 3rd, John Auld/Phil Bush 4th, Tom Schroeder/Arlene Truex 5th,  Tom Cartwright/Sarah Cartwright 6th

Second Race:

Laser Class:  Jim Voelz 1^st , Matt Bartlett  2^nd, Kevin Preuss 3^rd.

International Class: Tom Cartwright/Sarah Cartwright 1^st, Tom Schroeder/Arlene Truex 2^nd,  John Auld/Phil Bush 3^rd.

Overall on Handicapped Basis (not for scoring):  Jim Voelz 1st , Matt Bartlett  2nd, Kevin Preuss 3rd.

Tom Cartwright/Sarah Cartwright 4th, Tom Schroeder/Arlene Truex 5th,  John Auld/Phil Bush 6th.