2016 Spring Race Day #4 - April 23

4^th Regatta of the Spring Series

Saturday April 23, 2016

from notes by Ron Nash and John Bomar

It was a great day for an outdoor BBQ, a super day for a canoe trip down the river, perfect for a walk in the flowering woods of springtime.   But it was a really crappy day for a sailboat race.  With a large high pressure dome just to our south and nothing to move it along, the lake surface looked more like a mirror than a ruffled playground.  There were but few zephyrs in patches here and there and on average 2-3 mph of light patchy breeze. 

The skippers meeting began with a review of the rules relating to mark roundings, and restating IMYC’s policy that exonerating one’s self for a rule infraction requires a single 360 degree completed as soon as it can be done while keeping clear. 

Five boats made it to the start: Rama with Bob and Julie Rhodey; Lil’ Girl with Roxanne and Bill Tull; Z Cat II with Frank and Eddie Zeiler; Bogey with George Boger, Matt, and John Bomar aboard; and George Yerger brought Sirocco down from Greers Ferry with Ron Nash crewing.

Once again Eddie had set up a good windward leg into the forecast prevailing southeast wind forecast, with the start line set up just south of B Island and the windward mark set at I.  Most boats hung very close to the start line, not wanting to get caught out in the faint breath or whisper of wind.   Z-Cat II at the pin end and Sirocco further down the line led the charge (at about one knot) off the line with Bogey, Rama and Lil Girl not far behind.  It was all concentration on the tell-tales and wind angles as most boats headed left up the course.  Rama led the southern group tacking off to south, while Sirocco kept looking to the middle of the lake for what wind there was.   At that point it looked as if Z-Cat II had a few boat lengths on Sirocco.  Sirocco managed to catch the slight breezes and tacked on the lay line, heading south to the pin. Rama was ahead of the other group, now headed east to the pin from the area closer to Iron Mountain.

Rama had a short boat length on Sirocco coming to the pin, but had to give way to Sirocco on starboard. The Zone rule does not apply to boats coming to a mark on opposite tacks. Rama rounded the pin outside of Sirocco. Close behind came Bogey, Z-Cat II and Lil Girl.

The downwind leg was now a beat to wind. Sirocco kept her lead headed to the finish. The winds started shifting again. Rama headed off North; Sirocco kept bearing west and ended up heading off more westerly chasing the fickle breezes.  The wind finally shifted back around from the southeast.

Sirocco made a few more tacks and jibs and finished way ahead of the rest of the fleet. Rama ended up finishing next, but had trouble toward the north side with dying whispers of wind. Z-Cat II and Bogy drifted across in that order just behind Rama. Lil Girl made a great effort to catch up by hoisting the beasty spinnaker but with so little wind it was not much help, especially with the light pressure moving all over the compass in the final run. 

The course was a simple windward-leeward back to the start route.  And the short ¾ mile course took about an hour to complete. 

Race Committee Chair Eddie Z. queried the fleet if everyone had had enough of no wind racing, and all but Sirocco conceded. The buoys were pulled and all headed to the docks for beer.

It was still fun, in spite of the fickle and lack luster wind.

Congratulation go out to George and Ron though, they worked hard to coax the most speed out of the little Catalina.   In such conditions, all sailors know they deserve respect for their effort and the win.