Spring Series

Spring Series 2004 Race Results

April 8 | April 22 | April 29 | May 6 | Summary

April 22

Spring Series # 2 was BIZARRE, at best.

The course was set by Mike and Phil, the committee was run by Joan and Phil and hosted by Blaine and Elaine, and Mike joined them after he finished. Thank you ALL for participating in the committee work. Without your part, we couldn't have our races! You are appreciated!

The course was long, from the start line, to the green buoy inside the channel, ALLLLL the way out to the Snatelum buoy, and back to the finish. (At least in theory.)

The start was exciting, with good wind, 13 boats on the line, and nobody ran into each other! We actually had a committee call of "Sail # 93 over early!" Bob Miles had to return and re-start. Which he did, and still beat nemesis Blew Bayou to the windward mark. (So I hear). After the windward mark rounding, the two classes separated very clearly. The racers with spinnakers finally put them up, not immediately like usually, to the bewilderment of the cruisers behind, wondering... where are the spinnakers? But the wind was a mite wierd and they didn't put them up until they passed the scenic heights cliffs. Tango, Blidevind, Moonlight Flit, and Mariah II lead the way for the cruisers, and headed out across the entrance to Penn Cove with the flying class racers.

As Rossinante approached the last of the flyers, Slow Flight seemed to stop dead. Then Skip dropped his spinnaker. We cruisers all wondered what was wrong with them... hope nothing serious... and then Rossinante stopped dead. And then.... everyone was as still as can be. The bubbles in the water didn't even drift past one way or the other. It was as though time itself stood still, it was SO dead. While the fortunate ones ahead enjoyed their race, the rest of us sat looking at one another, looking at masthead wind indicators, backwinded sails telling the opposite story of the taletells... getting excited when one sail would fill, sheeting accordingly, only to have the "apparent wind" reverse, back the sails, and die completely again. It was the worst and wierdest "hole" I've ever seen.

Finally Rossinante got something she could work with, and began to inch forward. Looking back, Slow Flight was drifting a different direction, and no one else appeared to get it. So Rossinante finally caught and passed Mariah II who was in a slow wind lane of their own, and as all the fancy racers came flying past us beating to windward, the stuck cruisers had divided ... most of the group got some breeze and got out, but Blue Moon never got anything at all, and finally went home, to the dismay and sympathy of their fellow racers.

By the time Rossinante got near the finish, Moonlight Flit and Blidevind rubbed it in by finishing well before she could get there. Only Tango creatively waited for us, Bob having found his own little patch of stillness to the wrong side of the committee boat. Rossinante used the little catpaws to her advantage and made it across the finish line to the consternation of Tango's skipper, who called it a day at that point. The rest of the fleet lost the wind, and as the sun was setting, and US 25 called it quits, the committee conceeded and the race was called.

If I've missed any worthwhile, interesting, humorous, or otherwise noteworthy details, or if I've mis-named any boats or positions, or if the group up front has anything to add, which is very likely, as I was no where NEAR you, please write me and I will get it to Joan to add to this! Thanks for racing everyone, and THANKS for persevering in that race.

RACE #2

OFFICIAL CLASS RESULTS

Race Committee: Mike Schott, Blaine & Elaine Watkins, Bob Miles, Joan Gerteis, Phil Litrenta