Fourth Place at Nationals Seems Like a Long Time Ago

The kids finished fourth at USSBA Nationals in Annapolis, MD, just two Saturdays ago. And already band season seem like a distant memory.

Tonight was the first meeting for Indoor Drumline. We got the schedule, the speeches about commitment, the price (OMG), and the theme. This year’s show is “The Glass is Half…”

So of course we had to go out and do the research tonight. As we (a couple parents only) changed the levels of beer in our glasses we analyzed it for being “Half…”

I’m excited about this year. Both kids are trying out yet again. They should both make it unless they really blow the tryout. It’ll be fun. This will be the last event both kids will be in. So from now until April (yes the season is 5 months long) we will savor the experience.

Victor Marching Blue Devils are 2010 State Champions

This season has been exciting. My kids' field band started with a win, which is not so unusual these days. But that win was with a score of 82.7, which was not only the highest first score ever for the band, but the highest score for the week across the state. That result put the band in a position of being the favorite for the rest of the season. And they lived up to that expectation finishing undefeated.

Victor 97.05
Orchard Park 95.65
West Genesee 95.50
Arlington 95.10
Cicero-North Syracuse 92.50
Liverpool 92.25
Webster 88.65
Central Square 87.25
Copiague 86.30
Oswego 84.80

The Dome day is quite the experience. Since this was the last for our daughter, it was also emotionally wrenching for us, her parents. It starts with a parents performance on Saturday with introductions and such. The performance is their last until states. One parent showed up with a case of mini tissue packs to hand out.

Then Sunday the kids have a few hours of rehearsal and leave for Syracuse by bus. They have a pretty clear schedule of places to be and things to do. As parents, we do a lot of sitting and waiting.

We started by watching the Buffalo Bills rally from abysmal to tie their game. Then we listened on the radio to them shoot themselves in the foot a few times to lose that game. We got to the Dome arena and parked ourselves in the nosebleed seats. Two hours and eight bands later, the first of the contenders takes the field. West Genesee Wildcats have perpetually won this event. Their dominance over time has meant it takes years to teach judges that they are not the best. Their performance however was very well done. Their show tends to stand still during the harder music. But they executed well.

Right after them is Victor. We yell and scream as parents and try to embarrass our kids. But they go out and perform extremely well anyway. The show is their best of the year. My wife is crying the whole time. I get a bit teary eyed too.

Then right after Victor is Arlington, the third of the four contenders. Their show is also well done but maybe a bit simpler than Victor's.

now we sit through six other bands waiting for the last band, Orchard Park. They have not competed against any other contender this year. but their scores have consistently put them in the top few of the state. Their show seems to me to be a lot of follow-the-leader stuff, but they are big and have a big sound. And their color guard is huge.

Now we sit for another half an hour waiting for scores. The SU Orange band plays for the kids.

During this time as parents we are babbling idiots. Nerves are very close to the surface. We aren't judges. For all we know the year's hard work may lead to a fourth place. Someone says "I'm sorry. But if West Genny wins I'm not coming next year." That may be a bit extreme. In reality we all know that the kids did their best and will be proud of their accomplishment regardless of place.

The kids form up on the field. The scores for the Small School class are announced. Another half hour goes by. More tension.

Our class is announced. They start from last and go up. Fifth is announced as a 92+ score. We get nervous.

The announcer says "In fourth place.....with a score of....95.10...." and I freak. I figured our score would be in the 95-96 range. It could be Victor.

"...from..." Oh for Pete's sake get on with it!

"Arlington...." I don't hear the rest. This is a high score for fourth. And Arlington! We wanted them second. We thought it was between Victor and Arlington. Does that mean the judges are seeing things differently? Are the judges whacked? Is this going to be another West Genny mysterious win?

Trophies are handed out. Pictures taken.

"In third place..with a score of ... 95.50..." of crap that's close. Oh please not third, please not third.

"...from..." seriously? You have to pause after each word?

"...Camilus NY, the West Genesee Wildcats." A huge sigh of relief and spike of excitement and dread all at once. We finally beat West Genny (relief). We are going to be top 2 (excitement). And Orchard Park, who we really don't think had that good a show, may win (dread).

Trophies, pictures, yadda yadda.

"In second place...with a score of 95.65...." Yowser that's close!

"...from..." Okay, this is it. If it is Victor, lots of yelling! If it is OP, do everything you can to hold back the excitement.

'...Orchard Park.." I don't care whatever else is said. We won! Well, I say "we" in the my kids sort of are we, if you you know what I mean. All the parents are muffling their sobs of joy. Well at least all around me are. There are hugs, tears...a real mess.

The only thing that matters now is what our score is. "And in first place...with a score of...97.05" and that's the last I heard. I screamed. A bit of a loss of self control here. It was probably too obvious that I immediately thought "Damn straight! We spanked your butts!" In the 2 seconds it took me to regain composure, I'm sure I offended the very nice Arlington parents around us. For that I am truly sorry.

Tears welled up. My daughter's band career from 7th grade through 12th grade included three field band state championships out of 6 years. She caps this off as co-Drum Major, saluting, walking up to collect the monster trophies, pictures, the whole nine yards.

The kids party on the field and pose for pictures. We move from the nose bleed section to crowd the edge of the field. Euphoric.

When we arrived at the exit off the Thruway that leads to Victor, we waited with the crowd. The buses were escorted at 12:45 AM through town by fire engines and police, and about 100 cars honking. Very cool.

Next stop - Annapolis Maryland for USSBA Nationals Saturday.

Off Season Activities

Sailing season is over. Now it is time to complete the "winterizing" of the cottage. A couple weeks ago we did most of the work. All that was left to complete yesterday were three tasks: 1) Get the dock legs out of the water 2) Winterize the motorboat 3) Blow out the pipes of the cottages. I had 6 hours to accomplish this. I assumed 2 of those hours would involve a hammock and a nap. I assumed wrong.

When I arrived the motorboat was in the shade and the dock in the sun. So I opted to do the dock first. The picture at the left is the end result. The dock was pulled in, but still had wheels on the bottom of the lake.

My plan hatched over the past few weeks was simple. Six teenagers, a woman, and myself (strength equivalent of 2 people) were unable to simply lift the dock up onto the pier a couple weeks ago. This was going to require ingenuity and cunning, of which I had plenty.

For this endeavor I planned on using :

1. Two strap wrenches
2. Two 30 foot ropes
3. a 15/16" wrench
4. a Ford Expedition

I also ended up using:

1. 30 foot chain
2. 6 foot 4X4
3. garden rake
4. 200 pound magnet
5. 8 feet of string
6. a finger
7. a change of underwear
8. a 10-foot pole
9. 2 additional strap wrenches
10. a wheelbarrow full of firewood
11. 4 milk crates
12. a come-along
13. a big rock

Step 1: Raising the legs

The general plan is to raise the legs up as high as they go and then lift the dock the last few inches onto the pier. Each set of wheels is attached to a pair of legs. To get these up the poles must be lifted simultaneously or they bind. Simple. I would attach a strap wrench over the top of the dock and down to each wheel. The as I click click the strap wrench both sides rise.

As I am preparing the strap wrench, Woody (my dog) assumes I'm looking at fish in the water. He is at my side looking left and right underwater trying to see the fish. The wind is up from the South. The waves are maybe a half foot high. While I'm trying to hook the wrench I get a couple small splashes on me. I can live with that. I hook one side, extend the strap over the other side and dangle the mechanism, which immediately slide off the strap and sinks to the bottom of the lake. When I reach for it I drop the other end of the strap which sinks to the bottom of the lake.

I went and got the 200-pound magnet on a string. Hanging over the edge I fish for the metal bits of the strap wrench. Now the dog thinks I'm fishing and starts getting real excited. I'm hanging over the corner of the pier reaching out over the dock. The dog wants a better look and muscles in. I lose my balance and head for the lake. I dropped the magnet, grabbed the metal structure of the dock, catch myself and find myself hanging from the underside of the dock with my feet on the pier. All I can think of is my cell phone and wallet in my pockets.

I get my leg up and over the dock and hook a cross piece and somehow climb back up without swimming. A fisherman nearby applauds.

Wallet, phone, and valuables safely stowed in the car, I use the rake to collect the floating string of the magnet. After 10 minutes or so of more fishing (dog in a stay) I get the wrench. It turns out the strap doesn't reach. I use 2 straps, one for each side. I get them assembled and start clicking.

There is not much leverage in a strap wrench handle. The straps stretch and they have lots of friction. After 10 minutes of this I have raised the legs 2 inches. A quick mental calculation shows I will be done by Tuesday. I lock the legs in place with the mounting bolts and dismantle the contraption.

I need more oomph. I get the come-along. My history with this particular come-along involves pinched fingers, bent metal, and lots of swearing. I hate this thing. I hook up the cable and the other end to a rope with the come-along centered over the dock. Clickety click some and the legs move! Well one did. It binds up. I shake and push and jump up and down but it is stuck. I have to pound on the top of the pipe with a big rock. This I do successfully without dropping the rock on my head or falling into the lake.

Restart. Click click...stuck. Too much friction on one side. I can't go an inch without binding. I give up.

The dog gives up on the fish and sleeps.

One hour gone, not much progress.

Plan B - Lift the wheels from the center of the axle so they come up together. The axle is at the bottom of the lake and I have no intention of swimming. The rope doesn't sink. I get the chain. Using the rake and magnet I get the chain around the axle. Now I need to hook the chain to itself as deep as I can. From the waist up I am bent over the end of the pier up to my armpits. A boat goes by 30 feet away. The wake drenches me. I use item #6. They don't see.

I hooked up the chain. Now what. There is nothing to lift against in the center of the dock to hook to. I drag the chain up over the edge of the wall and toward the car. I'll just drive the car forward a bit and raise the wheels. I tie a rope to the chain, tie that to the car, and get ready to drive. Woody stands in front of the car looking like I'm trying to escape without him. I let him in the back seat.

I pull forward. No tension. The chain came off the axle. Over the end of the wall I go again. The dog (I let him out and left the door open) thinks I'm fishing and starts barking again. I get it hooked again, keep tension, and I'm ready.

Back in the car (dog too). I pull forward. MOVEMENT! yes! Nope. Just pulling the dock against the wall a bit. More pull. Nothing. I get out to look. The chain is bending the steel end of the pier. Back to the drawing board.

Two hours gone.

Plan C. A come-along from the shore end of the dock. A rope over a 4X4 down to the center of the axle. I rig it. Click Click...I'm scared. The rope is stretched to the break point. The 4X4 is up against the poles I am lifting, locking them in place. I rerig with the 4X4 in the middle of the dock. Still nothing. I loosen the bolts that are locking the legs in place. (THAT'S why the chain car thing didn't work!) Finally. Success! I have to unbind the motion once in awhile but I get the legs up!

Ten minutes later I have both sets of legs up as high as they go. It turns out this is at least 3 feet below the wall. I have to lift the dock up 3 feet.

Step 2 - Lifting the Dock

The dog gave up. He's asleep in the back seat of the car.

Plan A - use the car. When in doubt, use 300 horsepower to accomplish heavy lifting. I run a rope from the car out over the wall and down to the axle. I do this on each side. This does nothing but pull the dock against the wall and break a rope.

Plan B - lift the light shore end, prop something under the middle and lever up the heavy end using the whole dock. I get firewood. Using the angles of the flat cuts, I prop these up against the side of the dock so that when I lift they fall into place and I can lower the dock onto the upright firewood. Four tries later I give up. The best I could do was lever up the end of the dock about 18 inches. And then I had no way of keeping the dock up while I ran to the other end to prop it up.

Plan C - The come-along. I raise docks when they are in the lake by lifting myself and the dock using a come-along. It's worth a try. But that method forces the leg down and the dock up. I don't want to lower the legs again. I need new legs.

I look around for pipe. Nothing long enough. There is a pile of metal junk up top. I get in the car and head up there, Woody still in the back seat sleeping. I find a 10-foot pipe with a flange on the end. I remember it had mounted on top a pressure-treated bird house I made while drunk one night (beer, screw gun, leftover decking, and that's what you get). I pull the pipe out of the prickers and poison ivy and shove it in the car. It goes over Woody's head and slides all the way to the passenger side up front. I close the hatch and get in.

I start to drive down the hill. A chipmunk runs out of the pipe and starts to run wherever it can. I scream like a schoolgirl, slam on the brakes and jump out of the car. I race after the car and jump back in, hit the brakes, put it in park and jump out into bushes. I have to close the door to get up from the ground. Woody by now is chasing this chipmunk all over the car. When I slammed on the brakes he fell over the center console into the dashboard. The chipmunk then headed for the way back with Woody in chase. At some point one of them stepped on the door lock. By the time I enter to door code and started opening doors, the chipmunk is under a seat with Woody barking like mad.

Laughing so hard I have tears streaming down my face, I find the dog's collar and get it on him and pull him out of the car. I turn off the car. Woody and I sit down and wait. About 5 minutes later the chipmunk pokes his head out the door, jumps down and leaves.

After checking the 10-foot pole for other creatures, Woody and I head back to the dock. I use item #7.

Another hour gone.

With the come-along at the top of the pole, the pole sitting on the bottom of the lake, and the cable attached to the axle, click click...I'm lifting the whole dock end. One foot...two feet...uh oh.

The dock is now fully supported by a come along and one leg. One leg is hard to balance on. I am steadying the dock with my knees and one arm, click click with the other arm. The wheels are just a foot below the edge. All I have to do is go up another....oh crap. The 10-foot pole is between the axle and the pier. It is in the way. I have to set the dock back down. I reverse the come-along. The first click bends the little post that lets the come-along release one click at a time. It is stuck.

If I let the dock go it falls to one side. I have to MacGyver this one. What's within reach? A 4X4, a broken rope, 4 pieces of poorly cut firewood, a big rock, a 15/16 wrench, and a dog. With my feet I gather a piece of firewood. I reach but can't grip it to stand it up. Too short anyway. I get the 4X4 and manage to get one end. I push it out past the end of the pier under the axle. But I can't push down with dock parts in the way. I rearrange and manage to lever up that side of the dock and proped the 4X4 under one side of the dock. If I can lean the whole dock on its 1 leg and one 4X4 I can get it to balance. Success. But one puff of wind will topple it. I take the dog to the car and grab the only things I can see to prop up the dock, plastic milk crates.

A boat goes by. I start running, hurdling things, swinging milk crates. I get to the dock just as the boat waves hit the wheels. I catch it before it crashes off the side of the pier.

Two milk crates hold. I fix the come-along. I put the leg on the outside of the axle and click click up again. I reach the limit of the come-along. The center of the wheels are just above the pier but I can't lift it onto the pier. With milk crates and one leg holding the dock up, I tie ropes to the docks and the car. With one big pull the dock is up on the pier. Ten minutes later after after using the magnet to get the 10-foot pole and the come-along out of the lake, and the manboat to get the milk crates that were floating away. I'm done with one of three tasks for the day.

Wood and I sat and looked at the lake for awhile.

I had just enough time for winterizing and covering the motorboat, pulling the Frissoras' E-Scow, and blowing the pipes. Funny all the help showed up AFTER the whole dock incident.

Woody spent the remainder of the afternoon relaxing. At one point I saw him follow a chipmunk on the hillside with his gaze, but didn't move a muscle. Poor dog is probably traumatized.

The Regatta Was Mine to Lose...And I Did

Two races today. I finished 10 and 7 to successfully lose the regatta by a point.

I woke up this morning early, unable to sleep. The first start was scheduled for 10:00. By 9:00 I had the boat ready to launch. I delayed awhile knowing I didn't want to be out on the water too long. It was 46 degrees, blowing 15 from the N NW. I was wearing neoprene shorts, padded shorts, bib overall rain gear pants, a t-shirt, sweatshirt, and a spray top. My ears were still cold.

After launching I sailed to the parts of the course that were not in yesterday's course. The top mark was in a different bay. I noted the shifts, the shore affects, all the scouting I needed to do.

Then I sailed to the starting area, right up against the leeward shore, a shoreline with some height. The wind was lifting up and over. At the right end of the line was a big right, the left end a big left. Puffs rolling down the lake would make one end or the other favored.

I saw the course was right favored but the line left favored. I started at the pin, got quick clear air, and immediately ran out of lake. Tacking over I had to hard duck, then duck again, then duck again. I ended up in a crowd. I tried to get right as planned and eventually succeeded. Of course the left came in and I ended up very deep in the fleet. But I caught a couple critical shifts correctly at the last minute of the leg to pick up 10 or so boats, and get in contact with the lead pack. From there it was work to get into the top 5.

On the last leg of the race, Chris Craig had the race locked up. If I could get to 3rd place I would have the regatta locked up. I was in 6th at the last mark. I picked up Sean to get to 5th, lost him again, then split a little farther left than the pair battling for third. I came back just behind them. I made a couple more moves and gained. All I had to do was cross in front of them on port and tack to the finish on starboard to get 3rd. I had him cleared until a big puff and shift. He got lifted and accelerated, I got headed and stalled. I was too close to duck. I had to tack. I cleated the main to release the board and pull it down (doesn't go by itself) and turned. The first grab on the board failed. The second grab was good but I missed uncleating the main, The boat was already around with me still on the low side. I could still recover. But I was ducking under the over trimmed boom while capsizing, and wearing an entire closet of clothes. The main would not uncleat. I went over.

I stayed dry somehow climbing up the overturned boat like a rat fleeing a sinking ship. I learned from my one prior capsize that I need to take a rope with me. I grab the traveler. I'm standing on the top board now pulling on the traveller. Nothing. The main is still cleated on the low side. Over I go hanging upside down to uncleat it. Back on the board and slowly the boat comes up.

I look to see I'm in maybe 9th place. I spend the last 100 yards of the race cleaning up and cruising in. I know I just blew it. I had the regatta won. It was like getting to match point in tennis and losing the set. The anger sets in. The adrenaline fades. Something is wrong with my left arm. Somehow I hit my arm hard on the outside of my left arm. I have trouble holding a water bottle.

Regatta winners know where they stand after each race. I knew I had a throwout and Sean who was in 3rd had another bad race (ended up 8th I think after doing penalty turns). So Chris Craig is now holding the cards, driving the race.

I know I want to go up the right side for race 5. So like an idiot I get sucked into the great looking pin end. I win it and extend, tack and cross the boats near me. I'm in good company. Chris Craig, Richard Blake are right there. Sean takes his initial tack all the way to shore and come out later on port. And sticking to my plan when I come out, I go all the way across. I beat the left end of the line but ended up deep fleet by the time I got right. Sean banged the left corner and got a great lefty, which meant I was on the wrong side.

Each puff is snappy. I have to trim and ease constantly. My arm is throbbing. I have to wrap the sheet to hold onto it. I have no grip strength.

At the top mark I regained enough boats that I was within striking distance. Downwind I had a great puff that closed the gap more, picking up a few boats. On the second upwind I picked off a few more. But the crowd was keeping me from doing what I wanted when I wanted. By the last leg I was somewhere in the 5-7 range with Chris Craig covering me hard. I timed a tack in a crowd with another boat to drop clear left of him. All I knew was that I had to get to top 5. But now I had a boat on my hip. I was locked out left. When the shift came that boat did not tack. My opportunity was fading. Chris was way out on the right. The split was solid. The hip boat tacked away. I held on until I was almost over stood for the port layline to the finish. I tacked, worked through the shifts for 15 seconds and met Chris at the line. He was very slow on starboard struggling to make the pin. I was very fast on port. I ducked him and shot up. The whistle was less than a second apart. He got the position. In the end my day's finishes were 10 and 7, not very good.

Sailing in I could not tell if we were 5 and 6 or 6 and 7 place. In the end it did not matter. But what neither of us counted on was that Sean winning that race put him also in contention. In the end 2 points covered the first three places. I had 8 hours to drive home and think about this.

The Cowan perpetual trophy is a cow's ass, about 2 feet tall with the cow looking back at you. Maybe I actually won. I cannot imagine that on my mantle.

Cowan is an interesting place to sail. No boats and a small lake means no waves. Getting wet was hard. I showed how though - capsize. Flat water and big shifts means different sail performance. I realized I need to expand my inventory to include more than one regatta sail. I also need to practice slam tacks, capsizing, and other unusual maneuvers.

Thursday one of my employees asked me if there were any hot shots coming. I looked and decided Richard Blake was my competition. He was. In fact I started next to him in 4 of 5 races. I see now Sean is going to be hard to beat at home too. He sailed well.

This was my last regatta of the year. I met great folks this year. I think it was a successful start. I made my name known to a couple hotshots, giving them fits. I didn't have any real goals other than to win the local fleet. This second place will get me on a ranking list. My "new guy" status will be gone.

What this year did for my confidence is probably visible in reading these posts. I started the year having been away from regatta and driving for many years. Now I know I can hang with the big boys. People told me I was a good sailor. I think I can believe it. I'm not great. I need lots more work. But I know what I have to work on. There were race wins in regattas, three of them. I need to put four or five good races into a regatta though. not two or three.I need to learn to clear traffic. I need to work on my boat a little bit. It if fast but has some glitches I need to fix. I need to get in shape. I need to go to more regattas. But I think I'm on the right track.

Leading After Day 1

It has been many years since I led a regatta after day 1. I have 5 points in three races, finishes of 3, 1, 1. Second place is the guy that beat me in the first race. He has 10 points. Behind him there are a few people within a point or two.

The wind was 5 to 18 with more 5 and 18 than 10 to 12. It was a challenge with a small shifty lake.

Tomorrow I need to have one good race out of two. One finish in the top 3 should put the regatta away.

What a weird feeling. With a throwout there may be no need for me to sail the last race.

Although I won 2 races today, it was not easy. There are a bunch of people that could win races here. But I won the pin in each of 4 starts (including a racall) and stayed up front a lot. It helps avoid the crowds when you start well. In the first race I even tried to port tack the fleet. I had to duck 3 boats but made a good move with the start.

Tomorrow I just need to stay agressive and finish what I started.

Victor Beats West Genesee!!

I think for the first time ever Victor Marching Blue Devils have beaten West Genesee head to head.


(7:15) - Victor 83.20
(7:45) - West Genesee 82.40
(8:00) - Liverpool 78.95
(8:15) - Central Square 77.65
(7:30) - Oswego 72.50

And in another competition Orchard Park scored 82.55. So Victor for the second week in a row has the highest score in the state.

I am so proud of my kids.

Beautiful Day of Sailing

But we were off our game in racing.

Sunny, 75 degrees, winds South 8-12 with 10 degree shifts. It doesn't get better.

We finished 3, 3, 2, 5 out of 7 boats.

OK, yes only 7 boats, 3 from out of town and 4 local. It is hardly worth holding the regatta.

And 5th out of 7 is bad, yes bad. We let all three guests and one loacl boat beat us.

All day the seaplanes were flying though. What a perfect day for them too.

Overlapping Seasons

The first Victor Field Band competition was last weekend. This weekend is the last E-Scow regatta. Then a band weekend, then an MC regatta, then a band weekend....you get the idea.

Here's my review of the first field band show. I have a problem. I have been around this band for five years, this season being my sixth. Let's see if I can name the shows:

• Normandy
• Rain
• Raging Rivers
• Spirit of St. Louis
• Gold Rush

Ha! Pretty good. Not in order, but whatever. So Normandy was my "WOW" show as a parent, the first show I got to see. And of course I was at most of the rehearsals and all the shows. We drove to Detroit to see them in the Pontiac Silver Dome. And I started in deep with the boosters by the end of the season. The first show of the year for Normandy was shortened a bit I think because the band wasn't quite done with drill. Maybe I'm wrong but I don't think so.

Then comes Rain (order is coming back to me now). It is a step up in difficulty. I think Wednesday nights in the summer were added. The first show was pretty good!

No Raging Rivers. I don't remember the first show. But I know I took a couple hundred pictures.

Gold Rush was a tough show. The kids took a long time to be successful.

And last year with Spirit of St. Louis, the kids won the first show beating Orchard Park, I think. There was some big upset with other parents grumbling.

So I have seen 5 years of shows, a couple state championships, national competitions, etc. Let's say I have seen about 50 competition shows for my kids, and 250 rehearsals. There is no more WOW factor. No, the WOW factor is harder to trigger. Yes that is a better way to put it.

So we go to the show last weekend. Now there is another factor here. We have both kids in the band, one as a Drum Major, and one as a soloist. So there is the built in proud parent factor. The bands before Victor were ... challenging to watch, that's the right word. Webster is also National class but they were flat. Then Victor comes out.

Now I have seen the show probably 20 times this year. The last time was the night before. They did very well at the football halftime. But I was seeing issues.

This time they come across the field in front of a show crowd that is appreciative. My daughter and her friend lead the band out in dresses my wife and mother in law made. Two things hit me. My daughter is a Senior and almost gone. My son is a Freshman and seems like he is one of the most disciplined and mature people out there. My kids are getting old. And the other thing that hits me is that the band looks different. They look ready. They look like they know how good they are.

During the show I see arcs that flatten, I hear tears in the music, I see drops and stumbles, out of step, and lots of things that make me cringe. But as I'm snapping away with the camera and peeking around it with the other eye, I start to lose myself into the show. The closer has its flaws but I still get goose bumps. The Victor group around us is all full of pride.

I sit back and start to put it in perspective. Each year I am far more critical. Each year I see more "mistakes" that in yeas before I would not even know what I was seeing. In reality they did great. They did probably their best first show ever.

As the scores were announced, I started the over/under calculations I do. To place well at yea end they need to start the season well. Anything over 80 is good. Even high 70's can be winning shows by year end. Webster scores something like a 74. OK, that's about right. Victor scores 82.7. Well all right, I say to myself. I guess the judges aren't as hard on them as I am. What I hope is that the judges are rewarding complexity and difficulty more than in the past.

Regardless, the band was stoked. They partied on the bus all the way home. In fact they partied all night in the Lock-In...that I chaperoned...all night. The score was the highest of the weekend outscoring rival West Genessee by 2 points.

Personally my kids were fabulous, as they always are. Parental pride plus just plain pride is swelling. I certainly don't really want to go to the dinner at the regatta this Saturday night. I am seriously contemplating driving to Syracuse to see the band play.

I probably won't.

So next post will be FLACE regatta results and commentary - back to sailing. The band portion of the post will have to be just score comments since I won't be there.

End of the Season

The 2010 MC Scow season at Keuka Yacht Club is over. Labor Day weekend was the final weekend of sailing. Between E-Scow and MC-Scow racing I have 12 races scheduled.

The weekend started with a fairly intense cold front sweeping through the area early Saturday morning. This brought winds well into the 20's. The peak wind speed measured at my dockwas 28.5 mph. It was very impressive watching the frothy lake. The forecast for Sunday, the first day of sailing for the weekend, was that the wind would hold overnight and slowly taper off through the day. Sure enough I woke up Sunday to waves crashing onto our seawall. It was 50 degrees and blowing 18 from the South.

Unfortunately the wind dropped to zero by 9:30. The E-Scows sailed out to the course in light and variable. But the wind picked up just enough from the West to get a race in. We were over at the start. Since we had no radio we could not tell if it was us. Another boat restarted and the flag remained up. So from half way up the leg we returned to restart. It took both laps of the race to regain third place.

Race 2 started with a general recall. Apparently in a 5-boat race if 4 boats are over it is easier to restart the race than call the four boats back. On the restart we were clean. but the wind gods messed with this race badly. We were anywhere from first to fifth at times. We also experienced something unique. On the last downwind leg we got caught in some sort of swirl between competing South and Northwest wind patterns, both blowing zero to 5. Completely out of control with the spinnaker up we were tacked twice, spun 360 at one point, and finally sent Southward into dead calm. There we sat (in last place) for about a minute until the new South wind filled in. It went from zero to 18-20 in 15 seconds. The next 30 seconds was a BLAST across the lake about as fast as these boats can safely sail. We rounded the bottom mark first and went on the win the race in a screaming reach across the finish line.

That wind held and built into a Southwest 15-20 for the MC racing. When I was rigging my boat I decided to leave the new sail on as the wind looked like it was easing. I was also a little late for the racing. I sailed out to the course. Unfortunately the girls set a very very short course. The windward leg was about 400 yards long. With the wind up it was a boat handling challenge with no chance to settle in. In fact I crossed the start/finish on my downwind leg before the fleet behind us started, and they had a 5-minute sequence.

In race 1 I was in the pack around the top mark. Approaching the bottom mark I was the inside boat bow to bow with Steve Bender as we hit the 3-boat length circle. Clear ahead (or so I thought) on the outside though was Bob Meyer. He was along side the bottom mark about 2 1/2 lengths away having trouble gybing to port. As soon as he would gybe he was going to hook around and be 90 degrees to our path. He had rights. both Steve and I had to take his stern. That meant sailing by the lee even more than we already were. Steve did not turn. He assumed he had rights and was going to claim the inside. And with Sean already coming around the mark I was headed right into a major t-bone collision at 15 mph. With a second to spare I bailed out, tacked out to the left and missed the mark. I'm sure if I went in there it would have been bad.

I finished the race. But with the wind howling, and my newest sail getting beaten up, and a course so short that roundings were dangerous, I opted not to continue sailing. It took three tries to land my boat at my dock in the 2-3 foot waves and 20 mph wind.

Sunday night we went to a wonderful party. I drank too much. Monday morning I awoke to a headache, and absolutely no wind. But on the way to the club for the morning E-Scow racing the wind picked up to a very nice 8-12 from the South. E-scow racing for the day was extremely competitive with lots of position changes. It was just fun.

As the day progressed, the wind and waves built. My upwind sail out to the start of the MC races was long and pounding. Race 1 was delayed due to Race Committee issues. When it finally started I had been on the lake an hour in 15-20 mph winds. We sailed four races in this wind. Sean Tracey was very good in the blow taking the first two races. He passed me downwind quite easily. In race three I was leading into the top mark. I approached the train of boats headed to the top mark on a layline. I decided to tack on top of the lead boat ahead of the others. I didn't bother looking at where the mark was. After I tacked into that controlling position I realized many of them and now I were below the layline. Too close to the mark to double tack, I had to shoot the mark hard or lose 5 boats gybing around. I shot hard, healed the boat to windward, and pulled the rudder hard to get the back of the boat around. I'm staring at the mark clearing it by an inch or two. As the boat bears off the boom is over top of the mark. I can't ease or I hit the mark. The boat heals up a LOT. I clear the mark, ease the main and the boom goes right into the water. I unhook me feet from the straps and climb onto the edge of the boat just as the mast hits the water.

The whole thing took as long to happen as it took you to read the description. It was slow motion. Having never capsized an MC Scow before, I had no idea how to right it. I'm standing on the wimpy little board trying get enough weight outboard to get the mast up. The board flexes so much I fall off. I remember now someone saying you will bend the board if you stand on it. I get back on and try to reach anything on deck. No lines are there. I try sticking a finger into the bailer to pull. That was painful and useless. So all I can do is grab the top rail and lean back. It works. I jump in and take off. Of course the fleet has gone by. In a 1-lap race there is little time for big mistakes. I regain 2 positions. With another lap I might have gotten 2 more. bob Meyer won the race holding off Sean Treacy at the end.

In the last race of the season I have absolutely nothing to lose. In the prestart I sailed off to the left and found myself in a nice East shift. I actually laughed out loud. I loitered 30-seconds to the left of the pin telegraphing to the entire fleet my intent to port tack the start. I timed it right and easily crossed everyone. Then also with nothing to lose I maintained the port tack to the right corner while the entire fleet went left. I had about a 4-length lead at the top mark. Then for the first time all year, I was able to shake the boats behind me and keep clear air and actually not lose anyone downwind. upwind to the finish I covered for awhile, then decided they were going the wrong way and tacked away. I still won the race but only by a couple lengths.

The final season results can be found here when they are posted.

Overall this year was great. I sailed 41 MC races winning 20 of them. I beat the top ranked sailor in the country in a race and actually gave him a run for his money in another. We got enough boats on the starting line each weekend to generate more interest. We may see three more boats next year to maybe get 12 on the line.

Next on the agenda is Cowan Lake, OH, the first week in October. Then I will play it by ear.

Regatta Results

Results are up HERE.

This is what the places looked like through the regatta.

Rob Seidelmann is now ranked #1 in the nation.

Nor'Easterns - Third Overall

All I had to do today was pick up one point to capture third. I ended up with finishes of 3, 1, and who cares. I'll explain in a minute.

The forecast was bad again, zero to nothing from nowhere. So the powers decided to have a 7:00 harbor gun and an 8:00 start to take advantage of the morning thermal breeze. The roosters weren't up yet at 6:30 when I rolled out of bed. Let's just say the rum was barely worn off. And my migraine I got Friday afternoon was still lingering around too.

We dragged the boat over to the club about 7:15 and hit the starting area about 7:45. The wind was a perfect thermal with hints of East in the 8-12 South. The course was short so starts were going to be key.

Race 4 was my tone setter. I needed a good race to solidify third. I started left center in clear air rolling over Bob Cole with the tracks down and bow down. I banged a left corner and came back to the top mark third, I think. Downwind I tried all the new tricks I teased out of people the night before. I lost a boat. Progress. On the long upwind I moved up to third about 45 seconds out of first and about three boat lengths over fourth.

So downwind I'm in third covering fourth with the two hotshots battling for the regatta win battling for the race win. I find the person I have to beat to get third overall is deep in the pack. I start doing score calculations and realize there is not much chance at getting second for the regatta. So I cover. I lose 3 of the 4 boat lengths lead over 4th and round 3rd with control over the guy behind me. He tacks to clear. I wait until I get a shift then tack to cover. I gained 10 lengths on him, and closed some on the leaders. So I decide to sail for the win. I break right playing the shifts while the leaders play with each other. I ended up cutting the gap in half and extending significantly over 4th.

Now I'm comfortable in my score, pretty well locked in third place. So I decide to be a bit more conservative at the start. The boat is favored and crowded so I opt for the 2/3 down the line. I get buried, second row. The PITS! I blew it. I tacked over to port to clear. Miracles do happen - nobody tacks on top of me. My air clears and I start working the boat not even looking at the fleet behind me. Ten minutes of intense boat speed work squeezing every inch out of the boat later, I round the top mark in third place. Downwind I - wait for it - no seriously you have to wait for it - I mean we need a drum roll here - I lose one boat but PICK UP TWO BOATS, one of which was the eventual regatta winner Rob Seidelmann. Yes I gained places for the first time in the entire regatta downwind.

I round the bottom mark second. The pass upwind was hard. We both came off the bottom mark headed for the West shore, the best wind on the lake. The first people West would have an advantage, at least that is what I learned over my 30 years sailing this lake. I held my own climbing up on his hip, about 10 feet left of his line and 2 lengths back. I gain speed and close one of those lengths. But with a long ways to go we got headed and I dropped right into his backwind. I tacked and he continued West. I played 2 more shifts and when I finally went back West to meet him I was able to just barely tack under his bow in a safe leeward. That dusted him off me stern for the remainder of the leg. I rounded first.

So now I'm positively giddy! I have 5 or 6 lengths lead on him and a long way on the fleet. The worst case scenario now is second place. This is where my butt starts to pucker, my stomach ties itself up, and for some reason no position I sit in is comfortable. Relax. Breathe. I stare at second place. I don't even care where I'm going. I am parking my boat between him and the mark regardless. OK how do I relax? I need to settle down. I'm in control of a race win but not myself.

Now some of you are saying "Seriously? It's a local 20-boat regatta. Get a grip." Agreed. I was gripless though. I know my sailing skills I know where they fail. Any reader of this blog knows I suck downwind in these overgrown Lasers. Winning a race, beating Skip Moorehouse and Rob Seidelmann in a fair clean race with medium wind is a big deal. It's not a fluke wind, not luck related.

We gybe for the bottom mark. I maintain and even extend a little, then lose a chunk of the lead. I still have three or four lengths at the bottom mark. I lead us both West, tack for a layline to the boat and he tacks 20 seconds later. I get headed but carry on. I make one more tack for the finish crossing his bow by 1 length. I win the race.

Now I have to be cool not to stay in control of the race, but because I am cool.

Race six. I did the math. This race brings in a throwout. So I have a 7 to dispose of. If I do better than 7 I gain the difference between that and my finish. Fourth place can't beat me I have third locked. Now Skip Moorehouse is in second. He is six points ahead. If I win the race and he does worse than his worst race of 4th then his 4 counts and we tie. But he wins on tie breakers. So I can't win and can't lose. I could do like Rob Seidelmann did and sail to shore. He locked up the regatta after 5 races. But I decided to sail.

I started middle. Brent tried to roll over the top of me at the start. I should have hit him and made him do circles. But the gun went off and I was second row, stopped. Race 5 start was bad, this was worse. I tack to port to clear and yet again nobody covers me. This time I am first to the top mark but overlapped. Bob Cole rolls me at the offset so I jibe out to get rolled by Brent Gillette. Incidentally, Keuka had all top five positions in the race for that mark rounding.

Brent G and I go West. He is a tiny thing, maybe 150 pounds wet. He rolls me and keeps going. I pace him but can't keep up. When we gybe for the bottom mark I am 1 length behind him. The pack though is bearing down on us. He scoots off on some personal puff and I get rolled by the fleet. Seriously almost the whole fleet. I went from first to 11th on one leg. At the bottom mark I get pinwheeled on the outside, buried in between boats and stuck. I also was hit by Brent P on the outside. He went on to take 5th in the race without me making him do circles AGAIN.

The fleet marches West. There standing on the end of the main dock with a beer in one hand yelling at us is Rob Seidelmann. It was funny. We all overstand the layline and it is just a follow-the-leader all the way. Brent Gillette, who was right with me before I got rolled is leading the race. I round 9th. There is no chance of winning and no chance of losing. I kick my feet up sail straight down the lake, whistle, stand up, stretch, watch motor boats, fart, scratch..... From the guy passing me a couple hundred feet to my left I hear "Oh how the mighty have fallen." Whatever.

At the bottom mark I was 11th. The West is obviously the way to go. The leaders are on a big right. I go East. I don't hike, don't do much of anything. I picked up two boats, almost picked up two more. Final race finish was ninth. Regatta finish was third, all alone, solidly, with nobody in striking distance in front or behind me.

Overall I did as I expected, probably my best. If I had done a few things differently I could have scored lower. But I don't think I could have caught Rob or Skip. I have lots of learning still to do.

I helped people pack, ate lunch, got my trophy and bottle of wine, shook lots of hands with my new friends and towed my boat home. It felt good. Really good. When the scores are posted at www.mcscow.org I'll post a link.

Next regatta is Cowan Lake, OH, the first weekend in October. No Blue Chips for me this year.

OK, off to work on my sore legs, back, knees, and band aid my flesh wounds.

Nor'Easterns Regatta Day 1

The forecasts was bad. Most forecasts showed 3-5 Southwest. On this lake that means no wind. But this morning at 3:30 I awoke to waves lapping the shore. By 8:00 there were white caps. At race time there was still a pretty good breeze.

Julie towed the boat over to the club. I registered and met the sailors. Let's say I feel thinner and younger now. This is not the young fit crowd.

On the way out to the start my vang shackle fails. I replace it with the crew hiking strap shackle.

Twenty boats on the line. I get a middle line start, clean and fast. In minutes I am looking back at the boats around me. Wow! Pretty cool! In fact with the exception of one boat, there is nobody near me. I cross that boat. Rob Seidelmann. I looked him up. He won the Midwinters, and always places high. He is the hotshot. I cross him but he's on a layline. After my tack he has the inside at the mark. But wow! We have maybe 200 feet on the rest of the fleet.

Downwind he walks away from me. We round the bottom mark still with quite a lead over the fleet but I am 6 or 7 lengths back. We start the long port tack to the West shore. I hold my own. He bails out early and I go deep West. When we reconverge he is 1 length ahead. Then he walks away from me on the layline to the mark.

Downwind he walks away from me. Around the bottom mark he is 8 or 9 lengths ahead. He covers, I cover Skip Moorehouse. Race over.

Race 2 I nail the start, third to the top mark.

Downwind they walk away from me. I lose 4 boats. (A theme is developing)

Upwind I regain them all and close the gap. Downwind they walk away from me. I regain them and close the gap picking off a few boats on the last leg to get fourth. Skip Moorehouse wins, Rob third.

At lunch Rob tells me I am very fast upwind, higher and faster than him. OK I can go home now. I got my $60 registration's worth.

Race 3 after lunch is in a LOT more boat chop and a LOT less wind. I nail the start, but so did Rob. Skip and I go left, Rob right. At one point I thought I had the leg won but Rob recovers and leads the fleet on a big right shift to the top mark. I am coming into the pack on port. Not goo. I flop early, bow down for speed to get left for maybe 30 seconds, then tack on a header to reapproach the pack. I made up 3 lengths, just enough to lee bow the lead boat. I rounded third.

The person who was in 4th or 5th just behind me unfortunately got hosed. He ended up hitting the mark and fouling a number of people eventually rounding near last. If I were 1/2 boat length farther back I too would have not been able to make the mark and lost the entire pack. As it was I cleared the mark by inches.

Downwind they walked away from me. I lost 4 or 6 boats.

Upwind I go right, make it all the way to shore, play the shore breeze (hiking out) and pick up enough boats to round 4th. I round the bottom mark 9th. I pick up three boats then break a board line. On the last tack to consolidate 6th I can't lose my speed and lose the place by inches.

Brent Gillette went from fatal deep at the first mark to second place in that race.

I an in fourth place, one point out of third and five points ahead of fifth.

UH OH

Stiff competition showing up for the Keuka regatta in 2 weeks. I may have to work hard just to get top three.

Longest Single Leg of my LIFE!

Yesterday was a beautiful day for sailing. It was blowing South again, oh say 10-20 but more in the 10-15 range. Ok, yes, there was some rain in the morning, in fact lots of rain. But it cleared off.

1:00 came around and I was ready to sail. So I rigged the boat with the old sail, not wanting to blow out the new one. And off I went. I didn't want to exhaust myslef on the long beat to the starting area so I depowered the boat and kept it flat. The puffs were up there, some were real challenging.

I sailed to the start to find I was alone. I sailed to the club, which was really good timing as I really had to go potty bad. Half an hour later 6 of us left the club to race. And it started raining. Now when I say rain, there is a drizzle, showers, rain, pouring, and call Noah you are going to need an arc. Well this was not quite epic flood rain, but it was enough that we could not see the marks.

But the wind was still up. So off we went. It took me a bit to realize the heal of the boat was the rain hitting it and not the wind. I was pinching and slow. I freed up the sail, bore off a bit and got it moving.

Emily made me some nice new tell-tales out of friendship bracelet stuff, something that is acroos between thread and yarn. Well, it soaked, drooped, and wrapped itself into a nice tight knot around the stays. No tell-tales. Rain on the water made wind spotting impossible. Let's say it was real interesting, but not fun.

I was near last place. But in preparation for the regatta lenght races in a couple weeks, this was a long course, probably 1.25 miles per leg, plenty of recovery time. I picked some shifts, squeezed the water out of the tell tales, and made my way up to second place behind Brent P (rapidly becoming a pain in my butt). The rain had let up or stopped. Downwind I held on, and closed some on Brent upwind. But he was covering me tightly and there was no passing. So I fell back to cover the remainder of the fleet.

The wind was dropping. Race 2 started in 5 mph or less. Finding wind was the challenge. Brent G got to the top mark first by 10 lengths over a tie between Steve, Brent P and myself. I rolled both around the mark but wanted to get left. I had to wait and follow Brent P, sailing through his lee and passing underneath. That was not an easy feat. The wind was way down. Sitting on the low side and trying to find the mark I realized it was WAAAAAY down the lake. Let's say 1.25 miles at 2 mph in miserable uncomfortable conditions was not fun.

At times it looked like I was closing on Brent G. But at the bottom mark he was still 10 lengths or so ahead. I had opened a gap on Steve A and Brent P. I split right of Brent G trying to find better wind. I did. Over the next 20 mminutes he worked the middle and I worked the right. At the finish, he won by about 10 lengths. We both had extended over the fleet though.

Thankfully we called off any further racing. Those 2 races were more racing that the prior week's 5 races.

Really Big Wow

Yesterday was a perfect wind blowing stink from the South. The graph here shows the story with gusts into the low 20's. Reaching hard for a speed run, the outhaul let go.

Unfortunately that is not my story, it is that of my lovely wife sailing her Sunfish. I took the day to build a 12X20 section of dock to extend our pier out into the lake. Julie thoroughly enjoyed her day lounging in the sun and yes, sailing the Sunfish. It's good, because if she went the full year without sailing it, I was going to sell it.

Today is scheduled sailing. We have light winds from the South, rain, and a scheduled family gully climb. So who knows if I will even sail.

Friday evening I went to the yacht club to attend a memorial service for Brent Penwarden II, father of one of my best friends. It was my kind of ceremony, 3 hours of drinking with a 5 minute ceremony. While I was there I checked out the season standings. Through16 races I have 18 points after three throw-out races. Second place has 42 points. There are only three weeks left in the season with a regatta in the middle.

Between pre-season's racing with about a dozen races, and the 16 I have sailed season to date, I have sailed more races this year than any year previously. Very cool.

I also got a confirmation from another person that he will be purchasing an MC Scow. A couple more and hopefully we hit the critical mass where it becomes the fleet to join. I'd love to see a dozen on the line each Sunday.

A Question to Answer

There must be more than just my family reading this now. I got a question.

Q: Where are you in the standings now?

A: I'm not keeping track specifically. But last weekend I saw standings that were stale by a week or so. In that I was 5 points ahead after throw outs. Since then I have extended some. But I don't have anything locked up or anything.

The real question is how I would stack up outside out fleet. And that I still do not know. And it looks like schedules simply won't permit me to find out this year.

No Excuses Anymore - But I Can Find A Few More

Finishes today of 1, 1, 2, 3, 2. Nine points in 5 races with only 5 boats is not really a good day.

Race one was a charm. The wind was up, maybe 12-18 mph. Knowing I needed to crack off hard to stay upright, I chose to be the left most boat. I think I have the heavy wind dialed in now. I sailed it like a finn, tracked WAY down (loose at times), over trimmed, no vang. The boom drive the mast forward hard making the sail flatten right out. Outhaul and cunningham are still a mystery. I took the outhaul to the tape (max) and cunningham about half the cloth. It looked like there was a reef in the sail with a whole lot folded up at the base. But it was fast. I walked up, got room to tack first, actually overstood the mark. I was first by a load and just cruised the rest of the race.

Race 2 was starting to show holes in the wind. I did the exact same start and first leg to lead again. It wasn't as much of a lead but it was enough. So after two races I'm feeling pretty good. But every time I think about seeing a sweep day (my gaol now) I blow it. This was no different.

Next race I led to the leeward mark with only Brent right behind me after Sean did a spectacular death roll half way down the leg. Brent tacked left upwind on the last leg. I covered. We both sailed the wrong way, but had plenty of distance to burn. Unfortunately we burned too much. I finished second when Brent G went right and caught a nice shift.

I screwed up the start of race 4 and was 5 seconds late at the boat. Brent P split right and found a nice wind. I tacked under him on the layline, but had to tack 2 lengths short of him to stay in clear air. I didn't make the mark. I rounded 2nd, then lost Steve downwind. I closed to 20 seconds at the bottom mark still saying to myself the race wasn't over. They went left to play with each other, I went right and proceeded to turn the 20 seconds into 2 minutes. Oh well.

Last race was time to redeem myself. I went left off the start, tacked quickly on a header and crossed the others. But Brent P went right off the start. We came together with me ducking him this time and tacking after I crossed. We got to the top mark 1 length ahead of me. Downwind I lost ground on him, frustratingly. Trying anything at the bottom didn't help. Finishes were set.

I won the day, but there were lots of issues. I replayed everything in my head on the long sail downwind to the cottage. Weeds on the rudder for 2 races - CHECK OFTEN you loser (me). The sail...when the air lightened up it was miserable. Shape was impossible to get. It is now off the b oat. I think I will switch to the new sail for the next couple weeks. Tell tales - they were useless. The bailing twine lasted a couple months but it is dead now. I need to load up the sail and the stays with real tell tales.

But the real issue was between my ears. Sail the wind. Stop pulling moves that are stupid. Extend. Close the gap. Whatever. Quit pulling a Spear move when losing.

I also took a chunk out of the deck today when I had to run back inside for my watch. The dock was merciless.

The family was at Buffalo Bills Stadium watching DCA competition. I could be there with friends and family. Why do I sail?

Two Weeks Off - One Day of Sailing

Ok I have to qualify, 2 weeks off meant working Mon-Wed each week, checking e-mails constantly, working issues over the weekend, and of course the loads of family time. So actual sailing opportunities didn't present themselves often. When they did I had to choose between those and fixing broken cottage things or playing with the kids or sleeping in.

So no pleasure sailing at all. I did get out for a racing day, finishes of 3,1,2,1. I think I have about a 7 or 8 point lead for the season. That will go away in an instant when I skip a week.

What I did do over the past 2 weeks was laugh, probably more than the prior few months combined. I very much enjoyed the company of my kids and family, extended family, and lots of friends. I'd love to write a witty recount of the best of the vacation, but I only have a few moments to write this. Maybe some other time.

My daughter

Pics

Eight Points in Two Races - OUCH

What a bad sailing day. Well actually it was a pretty good sailing day for the first 6 hours.

E-Scows sailed without KU-1. So I nursed my annual gin hangover longer than usual, did some chores, and set up to sail about 12:30. The wind was West 5-15 with 20-30 degree shifts, a great day for asymmetrical chutes. I took a few good pics that I will post later.

By 1:00 I was out on the racecourse doing laps between the E-Scow's windward mark and start pin. It was really good practice time. About 1:45 the first sails went up at the club. By the start of the sequence at 2:15 we had 7 boats on the line. By 2:20 the wind died.

My start strategy was mid-line with speed in the light diminishing stuff. I was early and crowded with 30 seconds to go so I violated my own rule and did a quick spin. When I started I was second row (in a fleet of 7 that is hard to do). I slow motion tacked to port to clear, only to find myself now totally dead in the water while those five boats that went left found a nice little streak.

My only hope was to split right, and hope and pray for the right shift. I got the right shift just after the leaders rounded the mark. I was measuring the distance to the lead in football fields.

Andrew Campbell once said on his blog that 1/3 of the race is the start, 1/3 is the first windward leg, and the entire remainder is the balance. We sail 1-lap short courses. It's more like 45% start, 45% windward leg, and 10% for the balance. So I had 10% of the race left to gain any places.

I split downwind (equivalent to throwing a hail mary) and proceeded to lose more distance. In the couple hundred yards back upwind, I closed the gap to the next boat but could not make the pass. I finished 6th out of 7.

Race 2 was better. Actual breeze kept us going the entire race. I won the pin on a hard left shift start and led awhile. On the first header I tacked while Sean held to a layline. He rounded ahead and never looked back. Steve split left downwind and picked me off for second. On the final upwind though I sailed through underneath on some really good boat handling downshifting from a 12 puff to 3. I cleared him and consolidated second.

In race three, the wind dropped to 0-3. Sniffing out the light breezes I rounded first, lost Bob who rolled me, then picked up the lead again before we all decided it wasn't fun anymore and abandoned the day.

Three and a half hours of sailing for a 6, 2 finish. I lost 5 points to both Bob and Sean for the day. If I had a lead (and I really don't know) I bet it is gone.

Worse, I dinged the bow on the dock. Plus the sail is really starting to show its wear. Time for some maintenance work.

Too Hot to Sail

Monday was miserable. Due to conflicts George did not sail the morning. It took every motivation I had to get off the hammock and rig the MC. Temps were in the mid 90's, winds were in the 0-5 range with moments of 10 and 60 degree shifts. Fouth of July boat traffic created a chop tank too. Luckily the race course was TINY. I'd measure the windward leg in yards not miles. It was typical of a Jr. Sialing Laser course from years gone by.

After the long miserable sail out to the first start I had drained all my water. Start 1 was right favored at 3 minutes to go but heavily left favored at the start. I started at the boat and tacked quickly but still found myself in fourth at the top mark. While they sailed high to stay East I sailed low straight at the mark. I rounded 1 boat length in front while all four other boats rounded together behind me. Their mess allowed me to scoot away for the win.

Race 2 was even lighter. I found tiny slivers of wind to get around the top first. As soon as I rounded the wind died. We drifted in 0-1 from nowhere for a leg plus a bit. When the wind filled in I was stil ahead and got it first. After the win we decided to use what little wind was left to sail home.

Final finished for the weekend: last, first, first, second, first, first, first. I wish it were like figure skating where the high and low scores were dropped. Oh well.

I drank most of the lake, used half a bottle of sunscreen, and still feel like I was cooked all weekend. Not too much fun.

Almost got lapped

Once in my life, maybe 1000 races ago, I actually got lapped. It was at a major regatta with 75 boats or so. The wind was light and shifty and I just did not get off the line then sailed into a hole by the top mark. About 40 minutes later around the bottom mark 6 or 8 lead boats passed me. It was a very low point in my sailing career almost making me quit.

Yesterday, in a 4 boat fleet we alomost got lapped, and we are the fastest boat on the lake. We were competing for the lead and sailed maybe 50 feet farther East than the others near us coming into the bottom mark. Last place scooted inside and around the mark getting the last of the dying breeze to take them West again to the freshening breeze. The rest of us stopped. One little puff 10 minutes later freed another boat, but we still sat. We watched the leader go all the way up to the top mark, round it and come most of the way back before we essentiall drifted into a small puff. We were release from our hold just as the leader passed us heading into the mark.

In my youth I would have been utterly frustrated ruining the day, family dinner - everything. Today we laughed about it as it was happening. Age puts everything in perspective.

We ended up winning the next race. And in the afternoon I finished 1, 2, 1 in the MC Scows out of 9 boats. Overall it was a great sailing day. Today is forecast to be light so we'll see what happens.

1 day, 7 races, 13 points

Father's Day. This is a day of rest and relaxation for the normal Dads. For me, it always lands on a Sunday, so that means sailing.

Yesterday was the first day both E-Scows and MC-Scows sailed this year. All I can say is that 7 races in a day is more than this body can handle.

It started with E-Scows and a 10:30 or so start in South wind. We won the start and were first to the windward mark only to find the spinnaker sheet set up under the bow sprit, which dropped us to second, a few hundred yards behind the eventual winner. Race 2 was delayed an hour while the Race Committee shifted the course for a West wind. It went just as swimmingly with an unexpected bow sprit retraction that led to a sea anchor set. We had enough time in this race to recover and win thanks to George's astute choices downwind.

I went home for a quick lunch and watched the wind die completely. So with energy to burn I shoveled dirt for 45 minutes or so until the wind came up. Sails went up at the club so it was time to sail out to the starting line.

MC-Scow race 1 had 6 boats, the largest fleet yet this year. We ended up with 7 for the following races. The boat end was heavily favored. There was quite a scramble for control there. I came out on top but in the mix let a couple boats down the line get ahead. Third at the top mark, but closed on a puff and gained the inside at the mark. From there I defended to the finish and won it.

In race 2 I made a big mistake. I tacked on top of second place on the layline to the windward mark. I hoped to roll him prior to the mark but didn't make it. On rounding he REACHED for at least 5 seconds, maybe 10. That straight sideways motion lost us both the race, and guaranteed we would not get anywhere near the inside at the bottom end. Another boat also caught up making me the outside of the pinwheel at the bottom mark. With no clear air and no lane and no real time to recover, I went from 1st to 4th with no control over my destiny for 3/4 of the race.

Race 3 was equally challenging. I picked the wrong side and rounded deep, maybe fourth. It took a lot of work to get back to second.

Race 4 was interesting. I had this one won coming around the bottom mark. I was second there but headed the right way and in phase on the shifts. I passed for the lead and was already adding up the points in my head. But I tacked 2 boat lengths too soon onto the Starboard layline. I ended up with a boat on my hip preventing my tack back to Port. When I could, I lost that boat and had to shoot the line and do a lot of avoiding. But 5 boats finished in 7 seconds. So pulling out a 2 from that race was a big save. I thought it might be a 5.

Race 5 was unusual. With the wind shifting NW all day, the boat was always favored. But this time it didn't seem right. The wind was picking up to 15 or so and veering SW. I decided on the pin end which ended up very favored. I quickly tacked to Port and layed the mark with traveller all the way down and vang on hard. The lead never evaporated and I finished on a strong win.

So finishes for the day were 2, 1, 1, 4, 2, 2, 1. I think that was pretty good. For the first time this year we had some real challenging MC sailing. Almost all the hot shots were out.

But this morning my old man body was really screaming at me. My hands wouldn't open up. My arms rebelled at being lifted to wash my hair. I have a big bruise on my head (again). Typing this is not comfortable. But on the plus side I lost 5 pounds!

The day finished with a nice hammock nap, a great steak dinner, a boat ride, and a very pleasant evening.

Happy Fathers Day.