6 FEET APART EVEN AT THE START - May 31st Race Report

Photos courtesy of Beth Auld and Bernice Rains
Sailors found relief from their “stay at home” fatigue with a great sunny and windy day out on the lake racing and dealing with what the wind was dishing out.   We changed up some of our race logistics to facilitate social distancing on the Committee Boat and it went very well. 

Sunshine, blue skies and a wind (except maybe at start of 2nd race)

Thanks to Committee Boat volunteers Beth Auld, Cindy Bartlett and Bernice Rains, and to Safety Boat volunteers Jim and Mimi Riffle.  Thanks also to Matt Bartlett and Dianne Fisher for setting up a course that was very appropriate for the wind from the north.  And of course, thanks to Beth Auld for organizing the Committee Boat volunteers and Kevin Preuss for organizing the sailors and the race.

Cindy, Bernice and Beth, our Committee Boat volunteers. They are as far apart as they could get while still all being in the "selfie".

Jim and Mimi kept an eye on the fleet - 6 feet apart

The first race started with a bang when a momentary gale came through just as racers were crossing the starting line in a congested group.  Relax though, faces were always at least 6 feet apart from one boat to another.  The strength of the wind toyed with courses that were otherwise set properly. Steve Willment recovered quickly from a resulting capsize and a few sailors avoided the general fray, but most were delayed a bit as they recombobulated.   As usual the first several boats to the first mark somehow enjoyed more favorable winds for the remainder of the race with plenty of social distance from the rest of the field.  Why does this happen so often?  "The answer my friend is…." well, you know the rest “boomer”.

Jim Voelz relaxes a bit after winning the first race

Unlike the first race, the start of the second race was during a lull in the otherwise decent wind which didn’t reappear until about a third of the way to the first mark.  The 2^nd mark required a jibe (a turn with the wind coming from aft, resulting in a swing of the boom from one side to the other, with much more potential force than with the wind coming from forward).  A jibe is always tricky when the wind is “Grandview irregular”, and Jim Voelz fell victim but recovered quickly.   There was a “photo finish” in this race as Dianne Fisher was gaining on Tom Schroeder who had been leading her by a wider margin until she wisely tacked earlier than he did on the final approach to the finish line.  Tom managed to stay about a foot ahead of her at the finish to take 3^rd place.Race results are below.   

For social distancing purposes we did not have a protest meeting, which is a big sacrifice.  A bunch of smelly socks and used face masks are awaiting our ritual “sock burning” at the first protest meeting, whenever that will be.

RACE RESULTS:

First (Trophy) Race:

Laser Class (and the JY-15 during Covid measures):  Jim Voelz 1^st, Matt Bartlett 2^nd, Tom Schroeder 3^rd, Diane Fisher 4^th, Kevin Preuss 5^th, Steve Willment 6^th.

International Class:  John Auld/Paul Hass 1^st

We are not scoring the entire fleet on a handicapped basis due to limitations on timing resulting from Covid measures.

Second Race:

Laser Class (and the JY-15 during Covid measures):  Matt Bartlett 1^st, Kevin Preuss 2^nd, Tom Schroeder 3^rd, Diane Fisher 4^th, Jim Voelz 5^th, Steve Willment 6^th.

International Class:  John Auld/Paul Hass 1^st