08/24/08

Race 13 (Right was Wrong)

Ok, it’s the final race of the year, wind is out of the north, weather buoy is up by the girl scouts, the wind is blowing a pretty steady 8 mph and there is not a cloud in the sky. I’m in 5^th place going into this, one point behind Mike and Dave, three points behind Jack and 4 behind Jim. Jim has RC and gets a third so his 32 points will be 35 at the end. I already have 36, so……. I have to beat Jack or Mike or Dave to get to the medal stand.

I arrived early and ran the course twice, once left once right. Left seems very steady but right was more intriguing. That became my problem. So I decided that I liked right but at the start I went left because the two boats just below me went left and it felt pretty good. That was Jack and John. About 2/3 up I look over and see that those that went right were almost as high as we were, on the same tack and much closer to the mark. I bolted, but when I reached the right pack, they were all ahead and now things are really looking dismal. I should have stuck to the left…….

Now I’m behind and will have to make some moves to catch up.

Walker and Des and Joe, starting on the two minutes are well up the course, they went left. So I work my way up the right side. When I said it was intriguing it was because it had so many nice lifts in it. But they didn’t last long, sometimes just a blast of air with nothing behind it. Ask Rob , here is the note he sent me after the race.

Peter,
Today's race had potential, until I made my bonehead flop the 3rd time up.  I think I was 5th or 6th when on a port tack I was getting back to the middle of the course to get ready to go back on starboard for the speed, up the left side when it happened.  The boat was healing perfectly, when a big puff knocked me sideways.  I tried to let out the sheet, but my right foot was on the exposed end, nowhere to go but over.  I loosened the windward board, hoping it would drop down, it never did.  As I tried to right the boat, trying to stand on the leeward board, very slick and unable to pull out the windward board.  Michele Hamilton came by and lifted the mast.  As the boat righted, the windward board released and caught my chin.  Bleeding I pulled myself in the boat and tried to get my bearings.  As the field past me, I got back in the race and finally passed Ray and Dave.  Needless to say, I went home quite dejected.  A good race in the top 3 was my goal, but Joe ran a perfect race.  I'll be back next week, hopefully a little smarter as our season winds down.
Rob

Thanks Rob,

Anyway I got to the mark somewhere around last and headed down. The downwinds were fast but few passing lanes so it was all going to be decided upwind. Next time up I go right again, I am behind so I need to catch some lifts to catch some boats. Dave has moved well ahead but I can reach Mike If I get some luck. I am close to Mike at the weather mark, in fact he hits Rob and has to do a 360 so I am slightly ahead on the downwind, but he passed me and is again ahead at the leeward mark, but am right on his tail. Again I go right on believing that one of these times it’s going to pay off. Noooooooooooooo. Still behind, Only consulation is that Jack is behind me, but not far. The wind is strong enough but so shifty that I can’t get a good long fast tack, not gaining. I see that Walker had gone Right and Joe and Des passed him and Dave was gaining. The four of them were separated from most of the rest of us by some way. Doug was in between the groups but not gaining on them. He says he had all his vang on and some traveler down to keep it going. He has lost 20 pounds since the cooking season started, down to 140, needs that vang.

Last time up is more of the same, desperation setting in, can’t catch Mike, Dave is out of sight and Jack is gaining, he finally went left and gained a lot. Close to the mark I was on Starboard and Bruce and Jack on port. I could not reach Bruce to cut him off but easily had Jack. Finished 9, pretty sad for the last race. Talked to Joe and Des later, they both stayed left, took long tacks to the layline, came across the top and then around the mark. Des is awesome on long tacks, he gets the most speed out of that boat and it paid off today. They finished one/ two with Dave passing Walker for the 3^rd.

Here are the results:

Joe

Des

Dave

Walker

Doug

Scott

Mike

Bruce

Peter

Skip

John

Jack

Rob

Dave C (Dave got to the line 5 minutes after the last of us started and did pretty well)

Ray (says he’s enjoying the learning and will be back next year much faster)

RC Jim

Thanks to Judi and Jim for RC,

See you all next week for the 33^rd annual Harry S Truman Regatta followed by the picnic at Des and Joans.

peter