06/01/08
First Race (The Beisswanger)
Saturday we had plenty of wind. In fact one of our new members, Jeff Lindenberg, was going to sail in it but thought better of it and stayed at the dock and gave it a good washing instead. But his friend came over and without Jeff took the boat for a ride. Jeff bought this boat from Walker, who had just bought a newer one from Larry Byrne, a former member. Anyway Jeff’s friend takes out the boat in 20 mph wind and turtles it. Kevin Kovarik had to go out and haul him home. Boat got two good washings that day.
Anyway there was not much wind left over for Sunday. We were all gathered at 9:30 sailing to and fro, checking the gear and rigging, getting ready but no wind. The wind was forecast to come from the southwest and clock around to the west, that’s how we set the buoys. But the only wind we had was large patches coming down the lake every 10 min or so, then nothing. The patches were coming from the east, and southeast. We decided to wait and wait but it hardly changed so we adjusted the course and got under way.
Curt was first off the line in very light wind, Jack, Dave and I headed left but most went right. Des had said before the race, most of the wind is up toward the Girl Scout Camp so that’s where I went. It was slow going but at least we were going. Jack broke off first and headed up the middle, I hung on longer then followed, and Dave held out longer but also tacked up the middle. As we converged with those who went left it appeared we had taken the better tack, Jack and Curt were closing in on the mark in the lead with Doug and Jim, Bruce and Mike from the right side just behind them. Wind at the weather mark was so light that all struggled to get around. But Jack and Curt were clearly in the lead, followed by Doug and Mike, Bruce, Jim and me, (not necessarily in that order). This excitement was followed by at least an hour of very slow not much going on sailing. Those who did not get around the mark before me, got stuck by weather mark for so long, we had two separated fleets that would not join up again. We simply drifted down wind and struggled up wind with few place changes. I was close to Jim and Mike but after they passed me I could not catch up.
The last leg was very interesting. Judi wisely shortened the race to 2 ½ so this was it. Jim and I were 6th and 7th at the leeward mark but doggedly headed up. (I mentioned to him as we rounded that the 5 guys ahead of us never had a chance to practice like he and I did on Friday.) A large patch of wind formed to the left and Jim took it. He yelled to me as he headed left aren’t you taking this puff, I did but I took the right side of it and was lucky I did. Doug too got some of the puff and too it left as well. I drifted right and saw Bruce and Mike well out in front to the right. About half way up the lake the wind totally died and we all sat for several minutes. At this point anyone of 8 boats could have won this race. The wind gods were in charge at this point. Wherever the wind came in first would favor that boat. From right to left strung out in a huge radius were Mike, Bruce, Me, Doug, Jim, Curt and Jack. Curt was probably closest to the mark with Jack next, but Jack was way northeast and could get left there. I thought Mike was out of it because he was way west and probably too close to Doug’s shoreline, I gave him little chance. I started to move even though I could see no cat’s paws of wind on the water. I was moving pretty much for the mark and liked my chances better and better. Mike seemed dead, I was putting a lot of space between me and Bruce, and I see Doug had given up and was paddling home. I was catching Curt who seemed to be dead in the water but Jack was moving. As we converged it looked like Jack, then Curt then I, no one else was even close. But we were moving sooooooo slowly. Finally Jack gets some wind and crosses to be the First winner of The Beisswanger trophy; Curt and I are moving toward the mark. Then I see Mike coming from a long way off from the right but coming fast on a new patch of wind. I tack toward that wind but see that he is unstoppable at this point, Mike gets the second. Bruce too was on this patch and was coming up just behind me and a bit to leeward. I tacked back and tried to duck under Curt who was literally drifting toward the line, I pulled up to windward of Curt and ever so slowly moved ahead to catch the 3rd by a foot, Bruce got the 5th just seconds behind Curt and Jim came in later. I didn’t see much of the other boats after we got separated. Ray, another new member, looked good and under control when I did see him.
Don’t forget, Thursday night at 6:00 for sailing and dinner at the Landings. Hope you can make it.
The official finish order was:
Jack,
Mike
Peter
Curt
Bruce
Jim
Dave
Rob
Des
John
Joe
Walker left before the start,
Doug and Ray didn’t finish
If anyone knows of an MC for sale, we have other new members looking.
peter
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