August 6th Race: Good winds build character

photos courtesy of Lisa Duret and Sandy Miller 

Another day of  good wind for sailors!

Seven boats get ready for the race. Committee Boat also.

Here, prior to the race, sailors are testing their wind-driven strategies for crossing the starting line

John Gall single-handedly set up a good long course appropriate for the wind.  The start was tricky, requiring a quick shift from the preferred starboard tack to a port tack after crossing the starting line.   Unless of course you risked a port tack and foul trouble from the get-go.  And some did😁.

A pack of Lasers found themselves going at speeds one seasoned sailor had not experienced before, and it had the boat vibrating. The wind had it’s unpredictable shifts. A few times it got crazily erratic, shifting from one direction to another within seconds, making the first reaction the wrong one. There was a dead spot of variable duration between the second and third mark.  The best planned maneuvers were at the mercy of fickle wind. But it sure beat having little or no wind.  And it built character. Uh huh 😕.      

A line of boats heading for the 2nd mark.  No congestion yet, but wait....

Rounding the 2nd mark:  Congestion of a pack of 4 boats all rounding the mark at the same time, trying not to foul each other or touch the mark flag.  Two more boats also approach the mark, a bit behind. The captain out front at the far left got hit with a gust and is trying to recover control.

John is fully hiked out, approaching horizontal, as he tries to go through the finish line without touching the Committee Boat from which the photo was taken.

The experienced gourmet committee boat volunteer team of the Millers, Fishers and Meshbergers did their usual flawless job of conducting the race between bites. Their Reuben sandwiches, pasta salad and lemon bars had to be eaten at a faster than leisurely pace because of the quick elapsed race times.   And bless them for taking in all the race markers after the race!  That was a huge favor on this particular day due to circumstances.  

 Jim Riffle captained the safety boat and had company this time, with Mimi on board, and Lisa taking some good photos.

We are always so grateful for our volunteers, and glad they can enjoy the fun and witness the competition, brilliant moves, and foibles. They get to know sailors', at times, "Jekyll and Hide"range of personas, from the joyful smiles and banter in anticipation of a good race, to game faces and barked alerts during the congested starts and close finishes.

Bob Orben watched the race from "At Last"

We gathered after the race for the “protest meeting” where a moot protest was explained, appetizers were enjoyed, new baby Gall was admired, and older brother played hide and seek.  Tom and Julia hosted in Arlene’s absence.  Thank you!

Thanks as always to Beth Auld and Kevin Preuss for organizing another great race!

 

Cindy "spins a yarn" at the protest meeting

Oh yeah, we did keep score: