Maybe it was the super hot days (109 heat index) that preceded the called Saturday race, maybe it was just bad timing, but only three crews showed up on the docks Saturday afternoon for the race. The Suggs and their guests (Rendezvous) , George Boger and John Bomar (Bogey) and the Zeilers, Frank and Eddie. Eddie decided not to Launch the Catalina 22, but rather to sail Louise, his much larger and more spacious live-aboard. And guess what, it turned into a an absolutely beautiful afternoon for sailing with steady 8-10 mph breezes blowing in from the Northeast … even if the lake was full of powerboat stink- pots running to and fro at breakneck speed.
As the sun was setting the crews met at Keith and Barbara’s boat to learn that he was deep in her bowels looking for the cause of a stern light dysfunction. Sadly, the problem defied correction and they had to withdraw from the competition. So it was once again to be a match race between the Zeilers and the crew of Bogey. By the time the course was set and both boats were on the line it was 10:00 PM. The wind was still out of the North/Northeast and the early racing was with the boats on a starboard bean/broad reach. Both boats had hit the line at the same time, Bogey was windward, but by the time Bogey had reached the State Park Lodge she was well ahead of Louise. Her new secret weapon was a light weight 180% drifter that George had just started using and it proved valuable beyond description. It would take a shape even in the light stuff and with her just-cleaned-bottom Bogey was steadily doing a “horizon job” on poor Louise who suffered from too much weight, too heavy cloth up front and too light winds and pressure.
Just beyond the State Park Lodge the wind shut down completely and lots of frustrated sailor talk was heard to emanate from the cockpit of Bogey. The competitive juices in those on board had completely negated the otherwise beautiful moon-lit night on Degray and its magnificent surroundings. When a light breeze finally did fill in, of course it was right on the nose, out of the West. The relatively easy long-reaching-leg had now become a windward beat and as Bogey crept forward, pulling the huge 180 through tack after tack, more salty, frustrated sailor talk – at higher pitch -- could be heard across the quiet dark waters. Fortunately no others were within earshot, except those in heaven.
Finally reaching Caddo Bend, Bogey then got to play the “find the buoys game.” Even with the moonlight, as the crew scanned to the West they were nowhere to be seen. A call to Eddie helped little in locating the very dark pylons, hiding somewhere to the West. As Bogey groped further toward the now setting moon, with binoculars scanning continually, the gates were finally located and the race was soon over. She had made it up to the finish line and it was 2:30 AM.
A call back to Eddie confirmed it was time to end all the fun and Bogey picked up the buoys and headed back, under power. The chug of Bogey’s old Seahorse outboard was music to the crew’s ears as they navigated back to the barn. And now, of course, the wind gods laughed with a nice 8-10 mph breeze out of the Northeast – a perfect reaching angle for the drifter -- as Bogey motored back down the lake.
