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| Jim Johnson - Winner Race 8 |
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7/22/07
Race 8 Determination and being at the right place at the right time.
The wind was about 3mph when we set the buoys but at 10:00 was too light to start. We delayed a bit and in about 10 minutes it filled in and Judi blew the 5 min horn.
Des and Rob started first but the wind was not real strong. The next group started and again it was not very strong but it was steady. When the last group started the wind had further strengthened and the fleet was coming together pretty fast.
My goal was to get to the main body of the fleet the best I could so I would be in the same wind. On days like this the wind comes and goes with big gaps in between. To beat the people you want to beat you must be in the same wind as them or you can’t win. It takes a lot of determination and being in the right place at the right time.
The determination seems obvious; you must persist and stay in the game no matter what. But with winds like this, being in the right place at the right time can make even more difference. Dave and Bruce were clearly ahead. I mean way up there after a full lap and looked like they had 1st and 2nd nailed. They followed the best wind coming from the Channel which took them left, then it died. Those behind also sailed up to and into this dead wind. But they were 100’s of yards ahead. We sat and sat, and then the wind comes from the right and catches Jim and I before Dave and Bruce and we sailed away.
That wind held long enough for Jim and I to get around the mark and sail the same wind down. At this point we were in our own wind and putting a lot of space between us and the fleet.
Third time up we again sailed into a dead area and waited but when it filled we again went ahead in our own wind. I could get close to Jim but could not catch. I got caught up at one leeward mark rounding but could not stay with him to windward and since there were not many wind shifts it was single file racing.
Mike had the best start but got messed up on the first leg and spent the balance of the race recovering. Which he did nicely to finish third. Jack was so far behind the fleet at the first mark I couldn’t believe it. We passed him going the other way on the first downwind. He said later that he tried to pinch up into the wind and tacked to many times. Not a good plan for light patchy winds.
Last time up Jim was quite a ways ahead but I kept my determination up. If I couldn’t beat him I can sure raise his blood pressure a bit. My best opportunity came within 8 yds of the finish. We were both becalmed waiting for the next wind to fill in. I was coming from the right and I was to the right, but much farther from the line. The wind came in hard and almost tipped the boat but only lasted a few seconds. I just got the boat trimmed and moving and it died just as suddenly. The blast missed Jim altogether. The wind behind it caught us both but he crossed comfortably first.
The balance of the finishers were as follows:
Jim
Peter
Mike
Dave
John
Jack
Rob
Bruce
Joe
Walker
Des
Dave C was RC
Curt was fishing, Doug selling sandwiches, Scott was ??, Bill got married
Speaking of determination and being in the right place at the right time…..
I was sailing home after the race and when I was out in front of Skips place slowly going towards home, I looked up to see two teen age girls on a large inflatable being towed very fast. As they come around a turn the one closest to me slid partially off the tube, but with a lot of strength and determination she held on. However, while part of her was skipping along on top of the water, the lower half of her suit slid down to her knees. Did she let go? No. Did she slide off into the lake to fix her suit, No. She just held on and continued down the lake at high speed. Now the way I clearly saw it, that was one great example of determination and, I might add, being in the right place at the right time.
The corrected results from RACE 6 follows:
Scott
Curt
Jim
Jack
Rob who I mistakenly put at 10, Great Race Rob
Bruce
Peter
Dave
Des, well done
Mike
John
Doug
Dave
Joe
Mary and I are traveling next week, so whomever would like to write a summary and send to John, please do. Thanks,. peter
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