June 2nd Race: There was a bright side.

 Our first race of the season, the “Memorial Day Trophy Race,” was won by Matt Bartlett, who had reason to suspect he might have been snookered.

A big thank you to our stalwart volunteers: Captain Jack Miller, First Mate Sandy, and their fearless crew, Steve and Gretchen Fisher. They flawlessly conducted the single race and dined on chicken pesto pinwheels, cantaloupe, and lemon-coconut bars. Although they had to huddle beneath the canopy a time or two, they had plenty of time to enjoy their meal before having to record the sailors' lengthy finishing times on the damp race sheet. Thanks also to Kevin Preuss, assisted by Tom Schroeder, for setting up a short course for a low-wind forecast with only a 15% chance of rain. It proved not short enough though.

You guessed it—it was a challenging sailing day weather-wise. However, the race day had many positive aspects:

•    The Memorial Day Trophy was won.
•    The Millers and Fishers were able to dine out on the water as planned.
•    We did not bake in hot weather.
•    We heard sailors' tales about topics such as an assessment of Miami, a guardian angel in the          Caribbean, near misses while supposedly moored, getting “buzzed” by helicopters, construction             happiness, and other interesting topics.
•    Five sailboats in the fleet appear to be ship-shape after successfully completing their maiden voyages of the season.
•    We enjoyed the camaraderie of the race and post-race, regardless of the conditions.
 

The start was a slow-motion yawner. The boats inched along, finally rounded the first mark and made it about halfway to the second. Then, the mere 15% chance of rain materialized in a big way, but without any wind. For quite a while, we were motionless. The few waves twirled the boats in random directions. Matt had managed to advance a fair distance ahead of the rest, and wasn't far from the second mark. The rest of the sailors, in close proximity,  made the decision that the race would not include the third mark given the lack of wind and any forward progress. We shouted the decision to Matt, but unfortunately the committee boat was out of hearing range.  Matt slowly rounded the second mark and set his course to the finish line. 

As Matt finished, the volunteers on the committee boat indicated he hadn't finished because he failed to round the third mark. For a split second, Matt wondered if the other sailors had successfully played a prank on him.
 

We had an enjoyable protest meeting (thanks, Arlene), but decided to have the sock burning after the next race on June 23rd. So it’s not too late to search the sock drawer and compose a poem if you wish.

Our sock burning must wait a spell,

Till clearer skies and breezes swell.

So give them weeks, a little more,

To craft their poems by the shore.

For when the fire's flames are high,

Their words will sail into the sky.

 

 

Our next race is June 23